'Many onlookers at the graveside were astonished at the strange uniforms and even more so as the orders were given 'As Gaelige''

'Many onlookers at the graveside were astonished at the strange uniforms and even more so as the orders were given 'As Gaelige''

Mike Mahon recounts Jackie Kennedy's request for a contingent of Irish cadets at JFK's funeral.

Mike Mahon

Trinity College Dublin

1963

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Mike Mahon

Adolescence and Early Adulthood

Life Story

Washington

1960s

Ask anybody and they will remember where they were on that tragic day, 22nd Nov. 1963. For on that day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, and was particularly poignant for me. Earlier that summer JFK had visited Ireland and had seen a contingent of Irish Cadets perform their unique and precision funeral arms drill. So impressed was he that he commissioned a video to be produced of this Drill. I had only been in the Cadets a few short months on that faithful Saturday when an urgent order went out for all cadets to assemble in the drill hall, Halla an Pharisaig. Some were on passes that night and calls were made to all the local cinemas and dancehalls ordering all cadets to return to barracks immediately. We thought World War 111 had broken out. The CO. Col Mattimeo appeared in civvies, which in itself was most unusual, and informed us of the tragic news. Furthermore , a request had been made by JFK's widow , Jackie, for a contingent of Irish Cadets to be flown to Washington to act as honour guard at Kennedy's graveside. At this announcement there was a flurry of activity in the Cadet lines. Firstly we had to draw out from the armory the old Lee Enfield . 303 rifles specially for this 'Queen Anne's Drill,' then all uniforms had to be inspected and immaculate. Twenty six Cadets were duly selected and flown to Washington the next day. This was a huge honour for the Military College, the Irish Army and to Country as a whole. Historically this was the only time that a group of armed foreign soldiers were allowed on American soil. Normally protocol called for such honour duties to be the preserve of the 3rd Inf. Regiment, the US Presidential Ceremonial Corps. Many onlookers at the graveside were astonished at the strange uniforms and even more so as the orders were given ' As Gaelige',.

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

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)