'Had I been found out I would have been charged with willful damage to State property '

'Had I been found out I would have been charged with willful damage to State property '

Mike Mahon remembers breaking down with his bike during his time in Military College.

Mike Mahon

Trinity College Dublin

1955

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Mike Mahon

Adolescence and Early Adulthood

Life Story

Curragh, Co. Kildare

1950s

That summer we were due to spend a few weeks in the Waterford Gaeltacht under canvass to improve our knowledge of Irish. The tents and all other equipment were transported by trucks, but it was decided it would be good exercise for the Cadets to cycle from the Curragh to the campsite near Dungarvan. Given the condition of the bikes it was considered prudent to allocated one truck to follow the cyclists in the highly likely event of breakdowns or punctures. We set of in groups of ten so not to clog up the traffic. As luck would have it was a scorching hot day and our heavy woolen uniforms and boots did not help the situation nor did the bikes have any gears. Breakdowns were frequent and the lucky few were picked up by the follow up truck to be driven in style to our destination. I got exhausted with the heat, car fumes and thirst. I'd had enough. I waited till the others were out of view , pulled into the side of the road and proceeded to demolish the chain with a large rock. It worked, the chain eventually snapped and I was picked up and driven in style to Dungarvan. Had I been found out I would have been charged with willful damage to State property, but the sergeant remarked to me, 'Well now Cadet, wasn't that a lucky break you had. '

Irish Research Council for Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (IRCHSS)

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)