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An Cosantóir March / April 2025 www.military.ie/magazine
PEOPLE OF THE DF
The Houlihan family's remarkable connection to the Irish
Defence Forces spans nearly a century, beginning with Paddy
Houlihan's enlistment in 1928. From that point on, military
service became a defining feature of the family legacy, with
six of Paddy's ten sons joining the army, followed by nine
grandsons and six great-grandsons who continue the tradition.
This extraordinary lineage of service is not only a testament to
their commitment to the defence of their country, but also a
reflection of the enduring bond between the Houlihan family
and the Irish military.
Over the years, members of the family have served both at
home and abroad, participating in over 55 overseas missions
in locations such as Lebanon, Kosovo, Cyprus, The Congo and
Liberia, among others. Despite the challenges they faced,
the Houlihans have always found ways to contribute to their
community and country, whether through military service,
teaching, or other roles. Sgt Dema Houlihan (Retd) gave us a
history of the Houlihan family's military service, highlighting
their unwavering dedication and the unique legacy they have
built within the Irish Defence Forces.
FAMILY NAME:
FAMILIES COMBINED SERVICE:
COMBINED OVERSEAS
TRIPS:
UNITS
REPRESENTED:
HOULIHAN
467 YEARS
55
44
RSM
Paddy
Houlihan
Paddy
and
five
of
his
sons,
Larry,
Dec,
Cyril,
Mike
and
PJ
RSM
Mike
Houlihan's
Stand-down
parade
Sgt
Dec
Houlihan
and
son
Gnr
Gary
Houlihan
1982
–
BQMS
Larry
Houlihan's
Stand-down
parade
Mike,
Larry,
Cyril,
Vinny
and
Damie
Houlihan
Mike
with
his
three
sons
Mikey,
PJ
&
John
at
his
Stand-down
parade
Larry,
his
three
sons
Paddy,
Dema,
Dougie
and
Grandsons
Keith
&
Ryan
pictured
at
the
Congo
presentation
cert
2024
Paddy
and
three
of
his
sons
Mike,
PJ
and
Larry
Larry's
three
sons
and
two
grandsons,
pictured
while
they
were
all
serving
in
the
CIS
Corps
