Joining the Defence Forces

Personnel typically join the Defence Forces through one of two routes; as a recruit to the enlisted ranks which account for the vast majority of personnel in the Defence Forces, or as a cadet to the officer ranks. Recruits undergo an intensive period of training with their recruit platoon in a designated barracks and at the end of this training, if they are successful, they will be passed out as a Private in the Defence Forces. Cadets complete their military training in the Cadet School in the Curragh Camp and at the end of their training, if successful, they will be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Many soldiers and officers retain vivid impressions of their recruit or cadet training as their first introduction to military life.

Commandant Art Magennis was born in Ardglass, County Down in September 1919. In June 1940, he and his friend Desmond travelled from Down to Dublin to join the Irish army, after hearing Eamon de Valera on the radio. Commandant Magennis went on to serve in the Defence Forces for 39 years until he retired in September 1979. In this clip, extracted from an interview undertaken in June 2016, Commandant Magennis remembers with pride, his first time dressing in the full Irish Army uniform to go into Dublin City.

Commandant Art Magennis was born in Ardglass, County Down in September 1919. In June 1940, he and his friend Desmond travelled from Down to Dublin to join the Irish army, after hearing Eamon de Valera on the radio. Commandant Magennis went on to serve in the Defence Forces for 39 years until he retired in September 1979. In this clip, extracted from an interview undertaken in June 2016, Commandant Magennis recounts his first meal with the Irish Army after he enlisted in June 1940.

Colonel Seán Norton enlisted in the Irish Army in January 1955 at the age of nineteen. Sixty-two years later, he sat down at Cathal Brugha Barracks to offer his memories to the MAOHP. In this clip, Colonel Norton recalls vividly the day he enlisted in the army. He remembers hitching to the Curragh Camp and walking across the plains on a very snowy night. He states; 'That was a very snowy winter's night and he [Seán's father] wouldn't drive me up to the Curragh, so I went out and I hitched a lift and I walked across the Curragh in at least six or nine inches of snow and enlisted that night. They sent me then to Renmore and then when the cadets came up in November of that year, I got it then ... I just got a few bits together and went out the road and hitched. They dropped me at the plains of the Curragh and I had to go over to the lights about a half a mile ... I was happy I think. I was on a mission!'.

In this clip (poor sound quality), Brigadier General Jeremiah O’Connor, a native of Kerry, records that in April 1940 his father opened a letter informing him that he had been called for the Air Corps on 07 May 1940. He recalls his father telling him while they were draining a field on the farm that 'here in God's name. Get out of that place and clean yourself', which according to Jeremiah was his father's way of telling him he had been successful. Brigadier General O’Connor remembers his father buying him a suit of clothes and a suitcase in Kenmare and recalls that forty-six years later, he saw the entry into the shop sales from that day.

In this piece of audio, Commandant Michael Walsh recalls joining the FCA (Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil) in 1972 and outlines his early experiences of later joining 'C' Company of An Chéad Chathlán Coisithe (First Infantry Battalion). Speaks about his early duties in the Defence Forces which included operating as a Pay Clerk and other documentation. He joined the Defence Forces in 1976.

Retired Barrack Quarter Master Sergeant Paul Cushnan is a native of Athlone, whose father had been in the British army. Cushnan joined the Irish Army in 1947 and retired as Barrack Quarter Master Sergeant. In July 2017, Cushnan offered his memoires to the MAOHP. Here, he speaks about his joining the army in March 1947.

Lieutenant General Gerry McMahon, a native of Limerick, retired in August 1998 as Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces. He entered the Cadet School in 1953 and served for forty-five years. In December 2016 and February 2017, he was interviewed for the MAOHP at his home in Kildare. In this clip, Lieutenant General McMahon outlines his reasons for joining the Irish Army in 1953. He explains that he had no military background apart from his uncle Vinny who had been in the Free State Army. He outlines that when he was doing his Leaving Cert he was informed that 'only Doctors' sons or solicitors' sons went to University'. He states that after being counselled by the Christian Brothers, he applied to several places for work including Shannon Airport, the ESB, CIE, Civil Service, An Garda Siochána and the Army. He was offered a Cadetship with the army, which his father advised him to take on the basis that it was 'a good job with a pension'.

Commandant Art Magennis was born in Ardglass, County Down in September 1919. In June 1940, he and his friend Desmond travelled from Down to Dublin to join the Irish army, after hearing Eamon de Valera on the radio. Commandant Magennis went on to serve in the Defence Forces for 39 years until he retired in September 1979. In this clip, extracted from an interview undertaken in June 2016, Commandant Magennis remembers that journey in June 1940 to Dublin and being taken to Cathal Brugha Barracks by his uncle Eamon, who was also in the Irish Army.

Colonel Seán Norton enlisted in the Irish Army in January 1955 at the age of nineteen. Sixty-two years later, he sat down at Cathal Brugha Barracks to offer his memories to the MAOHP. In this clip, Colonel Norton outlines his decision to join the army and recalls always enjoying being interested in the Scouts, noting that it seemed a natural development to join the army. He also noted that he enjoyed leadership and recalls as a young boy marching in front of his brothers, who were bringing home a Christmas tree on their shoulders.