NEWLY-promoted Lt. Col. Sharon Crean has been appointed as the first female Officer Commanding of the Army Equitation School, succeeding Lt. Col. Tom Freyne in the role. A former member of the Kildare Hunt Pony Club, Crean competed internationally as a pony event rider prior to joining the Defence Forces in 2000. She was initially commissioned as a Riding Officer, and was also the first female officer to serve in the role as Second in Command of the School, to Freyne, in 2016. Crean has served on two peacekeeping missions overseas, in Kosovo and Western Sahara, as well as graduating from King’s Inns with a Barrister at Law degree in 2011.

Speaking after her appointment, Lt. Col. Crean said: “I’m very honoured to have been appointed as Officer Commanding of the Equitation School. Having joined the Defence Forces as a Cadet in 2000, I have served in riding, administrative and training appointments in the Equitation School over the past 25 years, in addition to military roles at home and overseas. I’m really looking forward to leading the School in its centenary year.