An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir May 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 34 | I grew up in Dromahane, Mallow, Co Cork. In 1999 after completing secondary school I went to DIt Rathmines for three years to study for a diploma in Speech and Drama. I did a few part-time jobs during that period including ladies shoe salesman – worst job I ever had! My career goal was to go into acting full-time but I started off part-time with a comedy group, 'The Craic Pack', doing comedy improv every Friday in the Bankers Bar, off Dame St. We also took part in an Irish festival in Providence, Rhode Island, which was a great experience as they loved the Irish. In 2004 I completed a BA in Humanities in Dundalk. Then, after working for a year on the Dublin circuit doing theatre work, I went back to Cork in 2006 to undertake an MA in Drama and Theatre in UCC. This was more academic than I was expecting but was very interesting. I stayed in Cork as I started getting work. One job was with Snatch Comedy, another improv sketch show. I had also always wanted to join the Permanent Defence Force but because of college and acting I hadn't been able to. So, instead I joined the RDF in 2010, enlisting in B Coy, 34 Inf Bn, in Mallow. I was with one of two platoons from 1 Bde to complete two weeks of recruit training in Bere Island. As the oldest (27) of the 60 recruits, I was always conscious of helping the younger recruits when they needed it. As a two-star private I took part in a company-level exercise in Kilworth, and it was great to put into practice what we had been taught. Soon after, I was back on Bere Island for another two weeks undergoing my three-star course, during which we were impressed by the respect we were given and which gave us great confidence. I was very surprised but proud to be awarded 'Best Soldier' of my platoon. In 2011, six days before I was due to appear in two different shows, I suf- fered a minor injury to my ankle while training with the RDF. As a result, I played a limping Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and a leg-dragging Bassanio in The Merchant of Venice – taking the term 'breaking a leg' as close as I wanted! In 2012 I completed my Potential NCOs course over four weekends and a two-week full-time training camp culminating with a 72-hour exercise, during which we provided the troops for an RDF Potential Officers course. With patrol harbours, night raids, platoon tactics, and an ambush and assault on enemy insurgents, this was another great experi- ence in RDF life. Again surprisingly, I was awarded the 'Best Potential' for the course, for which I was very grateful. With the re-org in 2012 my unit was re-desig- nated D Coy, 12 Inf Bn, as part of the single- force concept. In 2013, I completed a few radio plays, including one that was shortlisted for 'best programme' in the National Radio Awards. My RDF background helped to get me a part as an extra in the film The Wind that shakes the Bar- ley, starring Cillian Murphy, as they were looking for people with military training. I'm still acting and continue to do comedy. I've also appeared in two operas in two silent comedy roles – which was fine, as I can't sing! Seán Mcnally D coy, 12 Inf Bn corporal by SGt WAynE FItzGERALD

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