St Brigid's High School Armagh

Past Pupils

Interview with Cathal Hughes who left St Brigid's in 2005 to join the Irish Defence Forces.

"It had always been my ambition to join the Irish Defence Forces, but I had to wait until my 18th birthday before I could apply. I filled out the application form and then had to pass three tests: an interview, a medical examination and a physical. The physical was quite tough and about one third of the applicants failed at this stage. I had prepared well, passed all three tests and began my basic training in Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines, Dublin on 30 April 2007, as a ‘One Star Recruit’.

The first 3 months of training are designed to find out how determined recruits are to become soldiers, and are very tough physically - 18 out of the original 54 recruits were unable to complete the course and dropped out at this stage. In fact, I wanted to quit twice, but I’m now very glad that I was persuaded to keep going!

I was in the final week of the course when I damaged my ankle and couldn’t be assessed, with the result that I had to do the whole 3 months course over again! – this time at Gormanstown Barracks, Co. Meath. I passed the assessment and our Passing Out Parade was held at Gormanstown on 14 February 2008. I was now a ‘Two Star Private’, contracted to the army for 5 years.

The next part of the course was quite tough mentally, as we were studying all the different types of modern weapons, combat tactics, unarmed combat, etc. At the end of this course, we all passed out as ‘Three Star Privates’.

I am now a Rifleman, assigned to ‘B’ Company, 5th Battalion, Eastern Brigade and intend to take advantage of some of the courses on offer to us. It is my intention to make a career in the army, to sign up for further 5 year contracts and eventually to become a Company Sergeant.

Life is good, with plenty of opportunity for sport, for learning a trade, for over-seas service with the U.N. and E.U. peace-keepers in different parts of the world, etc"

All the staff in St Brigid's wish Cathal well in his future career and are very proud of his success.

If you are a past pupil and would like to be featured on the "Past Pupil Page", please contact Mrs Deirdre Grant on 028 37 523 849.