Séamus O hUallacháin grew up on a small farm in Arcarne parish in Co. Roscommon. He began his employment with the E.S.B. in 1955 and he speaks at length about his experiences while working on rural electrification at various power stations. He joined 19th Infantry Platoon of the FCA in 1951 and was to be involved in active service as an ACP (Aid to Civil Power) in the Border area. He served as a commissioned officer for 31 years, and he explains that in the 1970s and 1980s he served at Finner H.Q. Letterkenny and at Lifford, guarding vital installations and caring for people from the Bogside who were billeted in South Donegal. He also mentions the checkpoint at Clyhore, between Belleek and Ballyshannon. He describes some of the incidences which occurred along the Cavan Fermanagh border and recalls receiving hoax phone calls in Finner about the planting of explosives in the area. He also describes the gathering of intelligence by the Irish Army in the region. In 1987, in the aftermath of the Enniskillen bombing, he joined the Enniskillen Together group which was set up to further the cause of reconciliation in the area. In early 2000, he joined the Cathal Bui McGiolla Ghun- na group, an Irish language club, which was set up to help improve community relations in the region. He was also involved in the setting up of branches of the Irish Credit Union in several counties in the 1970s.
This collection, carried out by Irish Life and Lore on behalf of Cavan County Library Service, is funded by the EU Special EU Programmes Body Peace IV fund under the objective to build positive relations with people from different backgrounds and communities to support peace and reconciliation.
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