An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir July/August 2015 www.dfmagazine.ie 20 | Protac, which has a military equipment store on Market Green in the Curragh Camp, has been providing bespoke equipment and accessories to DF members for 20 years. The business's owner, former 2 Inf bn and CTD East corporal Seán Curtis, is a third generation soldier; his father having served with 5 Inf bn during the Emergency, and his late grandfather fought in the War of Indepen- dence and went on to serve in the newly formed Free State Army. Seán's military equipment business began with manufacturing belt pads, map cases and tac-aide covers. Responding to increasing demand, Seán registered Protac as a limited company in 1995 and began produc- tion on a much larger scale. Seán says: "The business started off with the development of a belt pad and has continued to add new products up to our current combat vest. We always use DF members, both PDF and RDF, as a sounding board for devel- oping our products. Military equipment has come a long way since I went into this business and I'd like to think we helped. In addition to members of the Defence Forces we have supplied equipment to foreign military personnel, including many operatives from Special Forces units like GSG9, GIGN, SKS, Cobra and the French Foreign Legion." Protac products have appeared in many films and TV shows over the years, most notably Ultimate Force, starring Ross Kemp and written by former SAS Bravo Two Zero veteran Chris Ryan; US show Law & Order SVU; and Reign of Fire, starring Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey. Seán's wife, Eileen, did most of the initial manufacturing, making the belt pads, tac-aid holders and kidney pouches. However, when the orders started to multiply they expanded to a factory in Newbridge, eventually employing 24 machin- ists. In 2000 they opened the Protac shop in the Curragh Camp. The business was expanding beyond their expectations, but it was putting a lot of pressure on Seán and his health began to be seriously affected. As a result he made a decision to semi-retire by outsourcing all the manufacturing and concentrating their efforts at working in their shop and their online store www.protac.ie. Employing five staff, they still have the capacity to design and tailor samples and prototypes of bespoke equipment for local purchase and for the international market. The shop is still busy, sell- ing many accessories and hard-to-find kit to PDF/RDF personnel on courses or passing through the camp, and to their regular customers who include members of An Garda Síochána, retired DF members, military enthusiasts, campers and scouters. Protac sells everything from waterproof matches and knife, fork and spoon sets, to survival kits, extra webbing pouches, camo cream, torches, knives, map reading essentials, boots, model kits and paints, to clothing, including the now essential Snugpak jacket. however, Eileen told us: "There is no one item that's a best seller, everything sells." Seán is also the chair- person of AIME (Associa- tion of Military Enthu- siasts), which runs the largest indoor military show in Ireland, a military vehicle and re-enactment show called Salute!, in the National Show Cen- tre, Swords, every August. by SGT WAyNE FITZGERALD 20 yearS of ServIce In celebration of 20 years serving the wider Defence Forces community Protac are offering readers of An Cosantóir a chance to win a €200 voucher to use in-store or online. Question: how much is a pair of viper Special ops gloves on protac.ie? Email your Answer to subs@military.ie by August 19th. They are also offering free shipping to An Cosantóir readers until 1st September 2015. (Use free shipping code: ancosfreeship) Protac, Market Green, Curragh Camp, Co Kildare. www.protac.ie - info@protac.ie Ph: +353 (0) 45 441798 or visit us on www.facebook.com/protacmilitary Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy with Eileen and Seán at the opening of the new Protac store in the Curragh, from An Cosantóir February 2000 article 'Top Gear' by Sgt Terry McLaughlin. Eileen and Seán outside the Protac store in 2015.

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