|
Post by Matt McNamara on Jan 13, 2010 21:57:37 GMT
Hi All My greatest memories of the dump were the sand cliffs. Groups of us from O’Higgins Tce would spend hours climbing up and down the narrow paths that were no doubt made by many a youngster before us. How nobody was ever killed or seriously hurt from a fall from these cliffs I will never know, it gives me vertigo now even thinking about it. It was all great fun as I said many an hour passed up there. Learning to drive in the cars that were dumped there was also great fun and see how many of us could fit inside The constant smell of smoke from the fires that were always burning here and there. Of course we started one or two ourselves ;D And from the dump down to the Interment Camp and crawl under the fence to play in around the huts. This was always the scary part but the best buzz, as if my memory is correct there was an MP Detachment up at the front gate, and not good to be caught inside. It was a bit like the Great Escape with lads running from hut to hut, hoping not to draw the attention of “The Guards”. And as soon as we were rumbled, there would be a big scatter back out under the fence and into the furze. Great Days Indeed !!! Matt
|
|
|
Post by andybrennan on Jan 13, 2010 22:23:40 GMT
Hi Matt, Glad one so young as yourself had a deal of fun from the dump especially the sand pit I think my bottom made all those easy trails for you as I slid many a time downwards not clever to go the other way.
P.S I see you have part of the words of Curragh of Kildare printed at bottom of your posting .Post all the words Kentgal was looking for same.
Andy
|
|
|
Post by Matt McNamara on Jan 13, 2010 22:27:17 GMT
Hi Matt, Glad one so young as yourself had a deal of fun from the dump especially the sand pit I think my bottom made all those easy trails for you as I slid many a time downwards not clever to go the other way. P.S I see you have part of the words of Curragh of Kildare printed at bottom of your posting .Post all the words Kentgal was looking for same. Andy Short VersionAnd the summer's come at last The small birds are singing in the trees And their little hearts are glad Ah, but mine is very sad Since my true love is far away from me
Chorus: And straight I will repair To the Curragh of Kildare For it's there I'll finds tidings of my dear
The rose upon the briar And the clouds that float so high Bring joy to the linnet and the bee And their little hearts are blessed But mine can know no rest Since my true love is far away from me
All you who are in love Aye and cannot it remove I pity the pain that you endure For experience lets me know That your hearts are filled with woe It's a woe that no mortal can cure Long VersionOh the winter it has passed And the summer's come at last And the small birds are singing in the trees And their little hearts are glad Ah, but mine is very sad Since my true love is far away from me
And straight I will repair To the Curragh of Kildare For it's there I'll finds tidings of my dear For it's there I'll find tidings of my dear
A Livery I'll wear and I'll comb back my hair And in Velvet so green I will appear For I'm going far away ah but I'll return some day I'll return to the land that I hold dear
And it's straight I will repair to the Curragh of Kildare For it's there I'll find tidings of my dear For it's there I'll find tidings of my dear
Oh the rose upon the briar By the water running clear Brings joy to the linnet and the bee And their little hearts are blessed
Ah but mine can know no rest Since my true love is far away from me And it's straight I will repair to the Curragh of Kildare For it's there I'll find tidings of my dear For it's there I'll find tidings of my dear
All you who are in love Aye and cannot it remove I pity all the pain that you endure For experience lets me know That your hearts are full of woe A woe that no mortal can cure
And it's straight I will repair to the Curragh of Killdare For it's there I'll fond tidings of my dear And It's straight I will repair t the Curragh of Kildare For it's there I'll find tidings of my dear For it's there I'll find tidings of my dear
|
|
|
Post by andybrennan on Jan 13, 2010 22:29:57 GMT
Thanks Matt, You are on the ball.
Andy
|
|
|
Post by Donal McNamara on Jan 15, 2010 19:47:03 GMT
hi matt rember singing that song in the back of a army truck on the way to the glen and down in bob fintans when we were firing the 3.7 pack but that was before your time tony smith a true gunner rip there was another song cant think the name at the moment
|
|
|
Post by Matt McNamara on Jan 15, 2010 20:43:49 GMT
Hi All I never served with Tony Smith, but I do remember him going about the camp in an Orange digger with a mass of cables controlling the bucket, no hydraulics in them days Tony had just finished up his service in the FCA when I joined and he always made an appearance on Summer Camps every year after that. I dug up and old booklet on the 25th Anniversary 1959 1984 of the 6th Field Artillery Regiment F.C.A. Anyhow Sgt Tony Smith a legend of the 6th FAR featured in some of the pictures and I have displayed the below. Matt
|
|
|
Post by Donal McNamara on Jan 16, 2010 1:32:59 GMT
matt just like to rember an other old gunner in the 5 batt his name connie farrell rip alovely man
|
|
|
Post by andybrennan on Jan 16, 2010 1:38:11 GMT
hi Donal , When I saw the name I thought it was me auld pal from Ceannt the Painter Connie glad I was Wrong ,So who was your Connie.
Where are snaps of rubber tanks
Andy
|
|
|
Post by Matt McNamara on Jan 16, 2010 2:33:27 GMT
hi Donal , When I saw the name I thought it was me auld pal from Ceannt the Painter Connie glad I was Wrong ,So who was your Connie. Where are snaps of rubber tanks Andy Hi Andy Don't mention the rubber tanks. They have gone AWOL Matt
|
|
|
Post by andybrennan on Jan 16, 2010 8:40:13 GMT
Right Matt,
I wont mention the RUBBER TANKS RUBBER TANKS Andy
|
|
|
Post by kellquinn on Jan 16, 2010 20:20:25 GMT
Hi Matt and all I served with 5th Batt 6 Fld FCA (now The Reserve Defence Forces) for thirteen years, after doing my 21 in the regulars. The 5th Batt was a great unit and made up mostly of the sons of fathers who were serving or had retired. Paddy O Shea BS, (Tom Murphy RIP RSM), and Mick Cleary BQMS, there were ongoing bets as to how long I would last the pace and sure surprised many as to the length of time I spent there and I even collected the bets. As I said it was a great unit, and the training, craic and so on was on par with any unit in the regulars. My son is a Sgt with the same unit and I had the pleasure of training him and many more on Recruit training, Three star courses,NCO's Courses, and of course Gunnery. When serving in the regulars I often had the pleasure of handing over or taking over a duty from Tony Smith (Smithy) Mein Heihir, and you never had to worry about anything when Smithy was involved, he was a true professional, a great craic, with singing and harmonica playing among his many talents.
A great memory and proud to have served.
Regards JoeyK
|
|
|
Post by Matt McNamara on Jan 17, 2010 19:26:58 GMT
Hi Matt and all I served with 5th Batt 6 Fld FCA (now The Reserve Defence Forces) for thirteen years, after doing my 21 in the regulars. The 5th Batt was a great unit and made up mostly of the sons of fathers who were serving or had retired. Paddy O Shea BS, (Tom Murphy RIP RSM), and Mick Cleary BQMS, there were ongoing bets as to how long I would last the pace and sure surprised many as to the length of time I spent there and I even collected the bets. As I said it was a great unit, and the training, craic and so on was on par with any unit in the regulars. My son is a Sgt with the same unit and I had the pleasure of training him and many more on Recruit training, Three star courses,NCO's Courses, and of course Gunnery. When serving in the regulars I often had the pleasure of handing over or taking over a duty from Tony Smith (Smithy) Mein Heihir, and you never had to worry about anything when Smithy was involved, he was a true professional, a great craic, with singing and harmonica playing among his many talents. A great memory and proud to have served. Regards JoeyK Hi Joey Just looking through the Boys School Register 1 to 565 in Alphabetical orders and there is an Anthony Smith born in 1921 and I was wondering if it is Tony. It would fit with him retiring in 1981 at presumably 60 years of age from the FCA. ? Also there is a few Joseph Kelly’s , any of these your Dad ? Link to Register: curragh.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=boys&action=display&thread=52Matt
|
|
|
Post by ger818263 on Jan 18, 2010 12:06:05 GMT
MATT.that is a wonderful photo of TONY SMITH.now i can show my family the gentleman i have being talking about for years.thanks again for the photo .you know that saying .MENTION MY NAME AND I SHALL LIVE.with the help of this site and the great CURRAGH PEOPLE.TONY SMITH LIVES ON.THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES.MAGIC.
|
|
|
Post by Matt McNamara on Jan 18, 2010 16:45:27 GMT
Hi Ger Thanks for the kind words. The purpose of the site and forum is to share the History of The Curragh with others and to keep alive the memory of the people and characters who shaped that history. Tony by all accounts is one of those people who left his mark and is remembered fondly by people who knew him. Apparently my Father Peter enjoyed his company over a couple of Pints in the “Birds”, only found that out over the weekend. Matt
|
|