General Michael Brennan

Gerry McMahon
Interviewed for MAOHP - 10/02/2017
Reference Code: IE_MA_MAC_006_MAOHP_001_H
Location(s): Cathal Brugha Barracks
Length: 3.58

In this piece of audio from February 2017, Lieutenant General McMahon recalls a story he heard from Col. Seán Clancy regarding General Michael Brennan (Chief of Staff from October 1931 to January 1940), which underlines the importance of 'civil control of the military'. The story related to the election of Fianna Fáil to government when Brennan was Chief of Staff. Brennan, a native of Meelick in County Clare, had been on the Free State side of the Civil War and it was felt that this may have caused tension. Clancy informed Gerry that Brennan had insisted that the army had to accept the will of the people and to 'defend that democracy'.

Glendalough House

Imelda Conway Duffy
Interviewed for MAOHP - 24/08/2016
Location(s): Glen of Imaal

Length: 4.00

In this clip, Imelda recalls her research into Glendalough House in County Wicklow, associated with the Barton and Childers family. She recalls spending time with Bobby Childers (Brother of President Erskine Childers and son of Erskine Childers who was executed by the Irish Free State during the Irish Civil War)....

My father Tom Feely

Peter Feely
Interviewed for MAOHP - 24/06/2016
Location(s): Curragh Camp

Length: 2.30

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...

Childhood in Curragh, Mick Mackey and Father’s influence

Peter Feely
Interviewed for MAOHP - 24/06/2016
Location(s): Curragh Camp

Length: 4.30

Tom Feely Military Career

Peter Feely
Interviewed for MAOHP - 24/06/2018
Location(s): Fermanagh

Length: 2.21

Early days of training in the army (late 1950s)

Peter Feely
Interviewed for MAOHP - 24/06/2016
Location(s): Glen of Imaal

Length: 2.16

Early Days of Research in Baldonnel

Tony Kearns
Interviewed for MAOHP - 12/12/2016
Location(s): Casement Aerodrome

Length: 3.17

Tony Kearns, a civilian historian to the Irish Air Corps has spent over fifty years researching and writing about the organisation. In this clip, Tony recalls his memories of Baldonnel in the 1950s when he began his research into the Air Corps. He recalls the friendliness of Colonel Paddy Swan...

Malachi Higgins – Landing through sheep

Tony Kearns
Interviewed for MAOHP - 24/10/2016
Location(s): Casement Aerodrome

Length: 2.56

Tony Kearns, a civilian historian to the Irish Air Corps has spent over fifty years researching and writing about the organisation. In this clip which comes from the second in a series of interviews undertaken by Michael J. Whelan, Tony speaks about Malachi Higgins who was a native of County...

Memories of Brigadier General Barney McMahon

Tony Kearns
Interviewed for MAOHP - 24/10/2016
Location(s): Casement Aerodrome

Length: 2.09

Tony Kearns, a civilian historian to the Irish Air Corps has spent over fifty years researching and writing about the organisation. In this clip which comes from the second in a series of interviews undertaken by Michael J. Whelan, Tony recalls Brigadier General Barney McMahon, who later became General Officer...

Reflections on Brigadier General Jerry O’Connor

Tony Kearns
Interviewed for MAOHP - 12/12/2016
Location(s): Casement Aerodrome

Length: 1.58

Tony Kearns, a civilian historian to the Irish Air Corps has spent over fifty years researching and writing about the organisation. Here, Tony refers to Adolf Galland who gave a lecture in Ireland on 'the famous channel dash' to the Royal Aeronautical Society in the mid 1980s. Galland was a...

Family in WW1

Paul Fry
Interviewed for MAOHP - 20/03/2017
Location(s): Casement Aerodrome

Length: 4.32

Brigadier General Paul Fry was commissioned in 1976 and retired in 2017, having served as General Officer Commanding the Irish Air Corps. In this piece of audio taken from an interview conducted in March 2017, Brigadier General Fry outlines his family background in the military, which stretches back to 1815,...

Roger Casement

Jerry Carroll
Interviewed for MAOHP - 20/09/2016
Location(s): Casement Aerodrome

Length: 1.28

Here, Father Jerry Carroll, the Chaplain to the Air Corps refers to his interest in the history of the Air Corps and broader Defence Forces. He discusses the humanitarian and Irish republican patriot Roger Casement (who Baldonnel is named after) and outlines his admiration for the humanitarian and patriot. He...

‘The greatest missionary force to ever leave the shores of Ireland’

Jerry Carroll
Interviewed for MAOHP - 20/06/2016
Location(s): Cathal Brugha Barracks

Length: 1.15

In this clip, Father Jerry Carroll, the Chaplain to the Air Corps, speaks passionately about the role of Irish peacekeepers which he describes as 'the greatest missionary force to ever leave the shores of Ireland'.

Words of Comfort

Jerry Carroll
Interviewed for MAOHP - 20/06/2016
Location(s): Cathal Brugha Barracks

Length: 1.37

In this clip, Father Jerry Carroll, the Chaplain to the Air Corps speaks about a novel called 'Cutting for Stone' and uses the narrative to explain the value of 'treatment administered by the ear' in the case of an emergency, which are 'words of comfort'.

Battle of Glendalough (Irish Civil War)

Imelda Conway Duffy
Interviewed for MAOHP - 24/08/2016
Location(s): Glendalough

Length: 2.40

In this clip, Imelda speaks about her relation Tom Cullen who was involved in a shootout at a hotel in Glendalough during the Irish Civil War, where he was shot in the spine. Cullen was on the National Army side in the action. Imelda states that three months after the...

Reflection on peacekeeping and evolution of Irish Defence Forces

Imelda Conway Duffy
Interviewed for MAOHP - 24/08/2016
Location(s): Cathal Brugha Barracks

Length: 2.24

In this clip, Imelda reflects on the evolution of both the Defence Forces and Ireland since the Congo campaign. She recalls a story that she heard during her time making the documentary 'Fighting for Peace', about a soldier whose five-month old child died and was buried before he got home....

Wings Day

Ralph James
Interviewed for MAOHP - 24/02/2017
Location(s): Casement Aerodrome

Length: 1.35

In this clip, Major General James recalls his ‘Wings Day’, which was a ceremony to celebrate his qualification as a pilot in the Air Corps. He recalls that his ‘Wings’ were given to him by Brigadier General Jerry O’Connor (then General Officer Commanding the Air Corps) and recalls hearing the...

Mother’s family and political background

Gerry McMahon
Interviewed for MAOHP - 21/12/2016
Location(s): Drumcliffe

Length: 2.09

In this clip, Lieutenant General McMahon reflects on his family background and discusses the political make up of his mother’s side of the family.

Irish Civil War

Gerry McMahon
Interviewed for MAOHP - 21/12/2016
Location(s): Limerick City

Length: 1.32

In this clip, Lieutenant General McMahon reflects the divisions caused by the Irish Civil War (1922-23) and how it manifested between his father and uncle who took opposing sides in the Civil War.

The Irish Press during meals and delivering election tallies

Gerry McMahon
Interviewed for MAOHP - 21/12/2016
Location(s): Limerick City

Length: 2.11

In this clip, Lieutenant General McMahon speaks about his father's interest in politics and recalls how he would bring the Irish Press home for his dinner during the day and would read extracts for the family. The Irish Press was a noted Fianna Fáil newspaper. He tells a short story...

Condition of army in 1956

Gerry McMahon
Interviewed for MAOHP - 21/12/2016
Location(s): Custume Barracks

Length: 2.28

In this clip, Lieutenant General McMahon speaks about his feelings of disappointment at the situation in Athlone after he was sent there in January 1956. He outlines that the reality of how poorly organised and staffed the army was at the time. Speaks in detail about the nature and morale...

The Blacksmith of Balinlee

Gerry McMahon
Interviewed for MAOHP - 21/12/2016
Location(s): Cathal Brugha Barracks

Length: 1.52

In this clip, Lieutenant General McMahon recalls his Commissioning in November 1955. He recalls a funny story after his commissioning when his brother Raphe played a trick on his father. Raphe managed to introduce his father to General Seán Mac Eoin, the 'Blacksmith of Ballinlee' (who had taken the Free...

Appointment as Chief of Staff

Gerry McMahon
Interviewed for MAOHP - 10/02/2017
Location(s): Cathal Brugha Barracks

Length: 2.48

In this piece of audio from December 2016, Lieutenant General McMahon reflects his appointment as Chief of Staff on 08 February 1995. He speaks about his emotions and feelings upon becoming Chief of Staff and reflects on joining the army in 1953 with little military background and his sense of...

Good Friday Agreement

Gerry McMahon
Interviewed for MAOHP - 10/02/2017
Location(s): Cathal Brugha Barracks

Length: 4.17

In this piece of audio from December 2016, Lieutenant General McMahon discusses the role played by the Defence Forces in the lead up to the Good Friday Agreement and 'the normalisation of the relationship between the UK and Ireland'. He speaks about the previously informal relationship between the Irish Defence...