An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.
Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/1534622
| 21 www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE Short family history from Sgt Dema Houlihan (Retired) My Granddad Paddy Houlihan joined the army in 1928. Himself and my gran Sheila had twelve children, ten boys and two girls. Unfortunately, one passed at childbirth and another at nine months. Of the ten sons, six joined the army at various stages of their lives, some at 17-18, others later on in life after trying other avenues. Some left after 21 years and went on to be teachers and security personnel. My Granddad was RSM in Clarke Barracks, Curragh Camp and due to unfortunate circumstances had to retire from the army upon reaching the age of 49, or 31 years' service. This nonsensical rule was abolished after 12 months, but all too late for Paddy as he was deemed overage. He did manual labour on the newly built Curragh Gymnasium for a few months but eventually decided to take up an offer of manager of Kylemore Bakery (based on experience gained running The Curragh Bakery for numerous years) in North Frederick Street, Dublin where he took up residence with half of his family, with the other half staying in the Curragh area. After a few months the family moved to Killala Road, Cabra. My Gran's favourite quote was "What's meant for you won't pass you". The Defence Forces has always been very enjoyable and beneficial to the Houlihan family, and a great career at home and abroad. Paddy's six sons between them had nine Grandsons join the army, who then had a further six great grandsons follow in their footsteps. It's an extended Family and well spread out as some of the great grandsons' mothers are Houlihans. Factor in those that are married to soldiers, or soldiers' sons or daughters, and you get the picture! Six siblings still going strong with my dad Larry just gone 91, and Mike turning 90 in June this year. Long may it last… The Houlihan families impressive list of overseas service The approximate list of 55 overseas missions, (but probably forgetting a few trips). LEBANON UNIFIL 27 TRIPS KOSOVA KFOR 6 CYPRUS 5 CONGO 4 LIBERIA UNMIL 3 CHAD EUFOR/MINURCAT 3 SINAI 2 BOSNIA 1 SYRIA 1 AUSTRALIA/EAST TIMOR 1 HONDURAS 1 BALK ANS ECCM 1 CQMS Paddy Houlihan's Exceptional overseas service with 18 trips 100 Inf Bn Minurcat - Chad Eufor (Chad) 35 Inf Gp Kfor - Kosovo 95 Inf Bn Unmil - Liberia No 2 Irish Component Eufor BiH Kfor - Hq Kosovo (Skopje) No. 2 Ircon Interfet Australia/East Timor IHSG - Honduras Ecmm - Balkans 28 Ircomp (Unifil) No 24 Ircomp (Unifil) No 22 Ircomp (Unifil) 65 Inf Bn (Unifil) 63 Inf Bn (Unifil) 61 Inf Bn (Unifil) 58 Inf Bn (Unifil) 53 Inf Bn (Unifil) 48 Inf Bn (Unifil) The Houlihan family crest 68139 1928 - 1959 Transport RSM PADDY HOULIHAN 96315 1952 - 1985 CAVALRY RSM MIKE HOULIHAN 854537 1990 - 2024 CAVALRY/CHQ RQMS DAVE HOULIHAN 849315 1983 - 2008 CAVALRY/ENGINEERS TPR P.J HOULIHAN 847632 1981 - 1987 VEHICLE WORKSHOPS PTE JOHN HOULIHAN 840400 1978 - 1994 ORDNANCE CPL MIKEY HOULIHAN 809567 1959 - 1964 ARMY APPRENTICE SCHOOL PTE VINCENT HOULIHAN 815463 1964 - 2008 NO.01 MAINT COY, COE SGT DEC HOULIHAN 815451 1952 - 1960 1964 - 1982 EASTERN COMMAND HQ CS P.J HOULIHAN 855555 1994 - 2000 ARTILLERY GNR GARY HOULIHAN 834540 1975 - 1980 AIR CORPS A/MAN AIDEN HOULIHAN 841812 1979 - 2022 CIS DFTC CPL DOUGIE HOULIHAN 865533 2012 - PRESENT CIS SQN AIR CORPS SGMN RYAN HOULIHAN (VALERIE HOULIHAN'S SON) 859019 2001 - 2024 MIL COL DFTC SGT ROSS HAYDEN (LIZ HOULIHAN'S SON) 860773 2003 - 2008 1ACS/ENGINEERS TPR DAVID ADAMS (LIZ HOULIHAN'S SON) 862064 2005 - 2014 VEHICLE WORKSHOPS PTE NIALL ADAMS 861633 2004 - PRESENT CIS SGT KEITH HOULIHAN (MARIE HOULIHAN'S SON) 861648 2004 - 2008 CAVALRY TPR CONOR WALSH 837535/851775 1977 - 1980 1985 - 2019 CIS DFTC SGT DEMA HOULIHAN 834540 1975 - 2018 CIS DFTC CQMS PADDY HOULIHAN 1956 - 1981 MCKEE BARRACKS RSM CYRIL HOULIHAN 93644 1951 - 1983 ENGINEERS/MIL COL BQMS LARRY HOULIHAN