'Fortunately things have improved greatly for the Defence Forces since my time, they now have modern equipment and decent uniforms'

'Fortunately things have improved greatly for the Defence Forces since my time, they now have modern equipment and decent uniforms'

Mike Mahon reflects on the changes in the Irish army since his training.

Mike Mahon

Trinity College Dublin

1963

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Mike Mahon

Reflections

Life Story

Curragh, Co. Kildare

1960s

The most memorable thing that occurred during my time in the Cadet School was the assassination of President Kennedy. His widow , Jackie requested that the Irish Government to send a consignment of Irish Cadets to do honour guard at his funeral in Arlington Cemetery. This was huge honour for Ireland and the Irish Army. Fortunately things have improved greatly for the Defence Forces since my time, they now have modern equipment and decent uniforms The have proved themselves many times over and over in United Nations peace keeping operations in many countries. . We have a small standing Army of only about 12,000 , but I believe that there are more civil servants in the Department of Defence 'administering' the Army. One is tempted to ask the obvious question what do all these people actually do?

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

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)