This exercise is not mentioned in the Company history, but my notes on the enclosed photos, give the date as May 4th, 1974. I recall we camped (bivouaced) in the grounds of the old barracks in Glenmalure on Saturday night before heading out on an exercise on Sunday and then back to the centre. I have captioned the photos with the names of the people I remember but I cannot remember them all, so please let me know and I will update the captions.

Bernard Swan, Jurgen White, Mick O’Toole and Tony Taffe

Rear: Paddy Whelan, Dernan O’Toole, Tony Grimes, Arthur Plunkett, Gerry Paley
Front: Rossa Lyons, Deccy Phelan, Alan Kavanagh, Vinny Roche, Tom (Towser) Walsh

Paddy Cuffe, Jurgen White, Kevin “Bonzo” O’Connor

Don’t know any of these guys

Martin O’Sullivan, Deccy Phelan, Arthur Plunkett, Gerry Paley, Tony Gill

Paddy Whelan, Dernan O’Toole, Tony Grimes

I remember that we spent Saturday night “preparing” for the exercise in what is now the Glenmalure Lodge. We obviously had to leave early to get back to the camp, because as we walked back some people perhaps made a little noise or were somewhat over-exited. This lead to a local coming out of his house and shouting “Keep quiet you lot – there are people trying to watch the Late Late Show!” He was accompanied by 2 feline pets which led to much cat-calling on the lines of “Watch out – he will set the killer cats on us”. Back at the old barracks we had a bonfire and the sing-song continued.

Christy Shaughnessy at the bonfire with Keith Murray

We had PDF-issue sleeping bags, which while they were filled with duck down and very comfortable had a zip which defeated the best efforts of many to get out, and led to a number of “accidents” during the night. A recommendation for rubber sheets to be included for the next overnight may never have actually been sent to the Quartermaster General, but should have been. Hint: never use a sleeping bag Towser was in.

General view of the camp while weapons are being issued

Officers at the table are John Hynes and Dernan O’Toole with Tony Bergin passing by and Brian Hayden back left. I don’t recognise the arse on the bench. In front are Paddy Cuffe, Mick O’Toole and Bonzo O’Connor

More eating

Mick (Mooch) Mooney, Mick O’Toole, Bernard Swan and Paddy Cuffe with the sandwich

Gus McMahon with his section, Bonzo and Conor at the front

Issuing weapons with Pat Holahan and who looks like a very young Private Paddy Maher in the background

I plan on publishing a blog post on the “Separation of Church and State”, but even as late as 1974 on an exercise, we were paraded to Mass on Sunday morning. I recall a ladle and large metal pot being used to wake some of the more reluctant church-goers. After Mass we went to a small shop/post office beside the church to purchase confectionary, sugary drinks and pain killers, and even after 8:00 Mass the bar attached to the shop was full.

Platoon moving out with Pat Holahan and section commanders Gus McMahon, Vinny Roche and Arthur Plunkett. Paddy Cuffe inserted himself at the front for the photo.

Bernard Swan and Gerry Paley

The details of the actual exercise are lost to me, but I presume it was some class of platoon in attack.

Back at the Coastguard Station