THE MILITARY BARRACKS
FERMOY, CO.CORK IRELAND |
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THE MILITARY BARRACKS
FERMOY, CO.CORK IRELAND |
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Surveying The Territory 
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Interviews
John Whealey
Q When did you join the army? Q Why did you join? I joined because my father was in the army and it was past from generation to generation. Q Was it hard work? Yes it was hard work because you had to get everything right. Q Was it strict? Yes they always roared at you. Q How many years were you in the army? I was in the army for 22 years. Q What was the barracks like? It looked really old and tatty from the outside but inside was not too bad but it was cold. Q Is there alot of history? Yes, but I could not tell you about that only books from the libary would be able to tell you. Q What did the job involve? It involved cleaning,standing guard,fighting,on watch a bit of everything really. Q Did you enjoy it? Yes I did enjoy it but not all of it (the bit when they roared at you). Q Where are the remains of the old barracks? You can still go and look at the barracks up Barrack hill and near Carraignagrohera.But I am not too sure. Q Did alot of people leave? Years ago men came in and they were only 18-19 and they could not stand the training so a few of them left. Q How many people in the army? I am not too sure about 500 I think I am not really sure. Q What was it like years ago? Very different to army life today. Q Why did you leave?
To be honest I was getting sick of it and I was getting old. John DonovanQ When did the army open? I think it opened in the early nineteen hundreds. Q When did it close? It closed in 1998. Q Why did the army camp close? The army camp closed because it was in a very bad state and would cost too much to redo it. Q Where did the soldiers go? The soldiers went to Kilworth camps and to Collins Barracks in Cork. Q Where was the old barracks? The old barracks was were the GAA pitch and the pitch and putt club is now. Q How many were in fermoy army barracks? There were a few hundred.There were young girls and boys in the army and F.C.A. Q What were some of the main things in fermoy barracks? In the barracks there was a church were the soliders would go to mass and every year there would be a mass for the dead.There was also a church,a bar,a canteen, a cookhouse,a gym and a duty room,these were just some of the facilites in the camp. If there were people in the army and their homes were far away the army would give them rooms to live.This was handy for some of the soldiers. Q What is Kilworth camp? Kilworth camp is a firing range where the soldiers would go up the mountains and go shooting.Every year there would be a competition(the all Irelands) where they would pick the best. Q What do you know of the Lebonon?
The lebonon was a place where the soldiers would go for 6 months.It was a place
where there was fighting luckly they did not get called out there very often.
Eamonn ClancyQ What age did you become a soldier? 19 years of age. Q How many years have you been a soldier? 22 years. Q Can you remember what your first real job as a soldier was? I was a cook in the army. Q Do you enjoy being a soldier and why? Yes,because I enjoy the out door life and the adventure. Q Did you have to train hard to become a soldier? Yes, you need to be able to drive,shoot,live out doors and adopt to the weather(hot/cold). Q Did you ever go abroad with the army if so where? Yes,Middle East,Lebannon,Bosnia(Sarajevo). Q Did you have any other relatives in the army if so who? Just a few of the brother in laws. Q Were you upset when Fermoy army camp closed? Not really.As being a soldier you have to go where your told. Q Where are you stationed now? Training Instulation Staff Kilworth (T.I.S.K.). Q Do you prefer it to Fermoy camp(why)? Yes because it involves a lot of out door work. Q Do many people use the shooting range in Kilworth camp? Yes about 150 soldiers a day use the shooting range. Q Do you use the shooting range? Yes but not alot. V What position do you have now in the army? Iam Rank Corporal.An None Comissioned Officer(N.C.O.) Q What age do you hope to retire at? I am not sure yet.
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