Early experience at Cadet School

Gerry McMahon
Interviewed for MAOHP - 21/12/2016
Reference Code: IE_MA_MAC_006_MAOHP_004_G
Location(s): Curragh Camp
Length: 1.41

In this clip, Lieutenant General McMahon recalls his first day in Cadet School at the Curragh and recalls how the 'Munster men would stick together'. He states that; 'Oh I was absolutely excited about it. It was so new. I can remember the first few days going and collecting our uniforms and or bedding and what have you and bringing them over to the Cadet Lines ... that time we were in a billet of six.' He recalls an incident on the first day at Cadet School; 'We were told to go across now and draw your rifle. It was pointed out where we would do this ... I suppose being totally ignorant of things military, I remember making a beeline from A to B. It was straight across the square. There was this big man came out to the door with his arms folded and he looked at me. He was a famous character called the Liver Dunne. He was the Sergeant Major. He let me walk across the square and when I came within shouting distance from him he said 'come hear sonny'. So I went over to him and he said 'do you know what you have just done? You have walked across the square. Nobody is walked across the square except dogs and officers!' So that was the first lesson on day one but you now I was up for it!'.