Childhood in Curragh, Mick Mackey and Father’s influence

Peter Feely
Interviewed for MAOHP - 24/06/2016
Reference Code: IE_MA_MAC_006_MAOHP_001_D
Location(s): Curragh Camp
Length: 4.30

In this piece of audio taken from an interview on 24th June 2016, you will hear retired Colonel Peter Feely, a veteran of the Congo and one of three Platoon Commanders at the Battle of the Tunnel (December 1961). Colonel Feely was one of 14 men from 'A' Company of 36th Battalion, who received a DSM (Distinguished Service Medal). Here, Colonel Feely speaks about his early childhood in the Curragh in Connolly Villas and McDonagh House. He recalls that 'My mother's joke about that is she'd put me out in the pram and at this stage the recruiting had started after the outset of the war. She reckoned that the first words she heard me utter were clé deis, clé deis, left right, left right'. Peter also discusses the family’s time Limerick when his father was stationed at Sarsfield Barracks. He recalls that the famous Limerick hurler Mick Mackey was under his father's command. Peter finally recalls his decision to join the army as a young man.