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Acknowledgements

In the telling of the story of the Curragh camp, Con Costello was the first to open fire, as it were, in his wonderful account of the British army at the Curragh from 1855 to 1922; his book, A Most Delightful Station, is a wealth of information and will remain an enduring source for the camp’s history. It was clear, however, that there was a need for some ‘sustained rapid fire’ to tell the entire story up to the present day in ‘one burst’. I hope I have hit the target. If I am judged to have missed, then I must ask to be provided with further ‘ammunition’ so I can re-engage and complete the mission.

The story of the Curragh Camp will continue to unfold, and accounts of new happenings will need to be told. Other authors in years to come will hopefully arm themselves with the patient determination to complete the ‘firing range practice’ to good, and maybe even better, effect.

I wish to thank wholeheartedly the staff of the Military Archives, Dublin, for their steadfast support and encouragement; Commandant Pat Brennan (ret’d), Military Service Pensions Collection, for his guidance; Brigadier General Seamus Ó Giolláin (ret’d), whose urgings spurred on the undertaking of this project in the first place; Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Lane, Legal Officer Curragh Camp; Reggie Darling, whose invaluable reminiscences are reminders of an almost forgotten Curragh Camp; Oliver McCrossan, whose sympathetic illustration of the subject gives the story great substance; Mark McLoughlin for his insightful personal perspective of what it was like to grow up in the camp; the staff of the Curragh Museum, the members of the Curragh Historical Group and the many officers, non-commissioned officers, other ranks and friends whose patience I tested in checking small but important facts; Maurice Sweeney, whose oversight of my writing was of enormous assistance and comfort; and finally, Conor Graham and Lisa Hyde from Merrion Press for having faith in this project and bringing it to reality. I thank you all sincerely.

The views expressed in this book are the author’s only and not those of the Irish Defence Forces.

Dan Harvey

February 2016