An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir June 2019 www.dfmagazine.ie 20 | BY PAUL O'BRIEN MA M ercenaries, Dogs of War or Soldiers of Fortune, what- ever name they appear under, hired soldiers were once described as the world's second oldest profession. For centuries they have been reviled and vilified for their use in war yet they have proven to the world that well-disciplined, well trained and well paid troops can turn the tide of battle. Since 9/11, the Private Military Contractor (PMC) has emerged onto the worlds markets and the world's battlefields. They can be found pulling security for world dignitaries, securing vital installa- tions or working for the United Nations. Whatever the case, their numbers are growing at an alarming rate causing concern for government officials who by their own admission, also use private security personnel for their own means. Since their first recorded use in battle to recent conflicts throughout the world, the contract soldier is still and always will be a subject of controversy. In 401 BC, 10,000 hired soldiers were recruited by the pretender, Cyrus as he attempted to take the throne of the Persian Empire by force. His attempt failed but the mercenaries he had employed survived to retreat back through Asia Minor in a march that was recorded by Xenophon, a story that is considered by many to be a fitting memoir of a mercenary venture. Many people believe that the definition of a mercenary is a freelance soldier with no loyalty, ruthless to the core, undertak- ing short contracts for large amounts of money, often depicted in books and films as a gun-toting, knife wielding soldier of fortune, They may be surprised to learn that this impression is very far removed from reality. The correct definition of a mercenary is one who fights in the pay of a power that is not his own country. Such a definition covers a wide range stretching from the French Foreign Legionnaire to the Private Military Contractors of today. Many Irishmen have left the country to fight for England's enemies, hoping eventually to return to Ireland and throw off the shackles of foreign rule. Following the Irish defeat at the Battle of Kinsale in 1602, many soldiers joined the service of the King of Spain, the principal Catholic monarch in Europe. While many fought for their principles, there were others for whom the prospect of secure employment with regular pay and food was the goal. Adventure and the excitement of military life also attracted many who believed that a new life awaited them where they could learn a new language and raise a family in a new country while retaining their Irish roots. Perhaps one of the most well-known groups of mercenary soldiers is the Wild Geese. This title refers to the departure of an Irish Jacobite army under the command of Patrick Sarsfield from Ireland to France in 1691. During the Williamite War (1688-1691), Ire- land became a battleground for King William and King James and thousands of soldiers under their commands. King Louis XIV gave

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