Dad’s - and Mum’s - Army!

The last 18 months have been difficult for everyone, but during that period, one Nobber couple has really stepped up to help some of the world's most vulnerable people.

Parents of four Bridget and Ken McCormack are both serving in the Irish Army, and were both involved in peace keeping work with the UN during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ken was in Syria at the start of the pandemic, while Bridget travelled to Lebanon in October, returning just recently.

“When Covid starting raising its head in Ireland, Ken was in Syria. I was quite anxious at this time wondering what to do if one of the children or even I contracted it,” says Bridget.

“How would I deal with it if one of us had to go to hospital? 101 things go through your head, especially when there was no mixing of households, and then we didn’t know if there would be a delay in Ken coming home.

“Fortunately his tour came home, and I hit the ground running, being deployed to nursing homes, testing centre, ambulance duties," she continues.

“It was a hectic time but one that I will always be proud to say I played my part in.”

Bridget's most recent mission was with the 117th Infantry Battalion to Lebanon.

“We knew going over that we would not receive any leave during this mission, this made it all the harder knowing I was heading away for nearly seven months with no break to see Ken and the children in between.

“The mission itself was quite different to any other. Covid had a big impact on our unit and in our camp, but to see the commitment and reliability of our soldiers to assist and make sure the mission continues and the job gets done, was one that I will forever be proud of.”

She says that coming home to see Ken and the children was the best feeling ever.

“I think we both just felt that we could let out that big breath again. I was tired from those extremely busy months and Ken was tired playing both parents for that amount of time.

“Ken's family were great at this time, his mother and Godmother were great giving him days off from cooking dinners.”

“People ask us how we do it, juggle work, overseas and family but it’s what we know, we have incorporated our family and army life together and it works for us, neither one of us are better than each other we can both mind the children and run the house and go to work while the other is away overseas or on training courses, but of course it’s better and easier when it’s the both of us.”

Both Bridget and Ken have reached the rank of sergeant and Bridget is a paramedic.

Bridget is originally from Co Limerick and joined the FCA with her brothers and some of her friends as a teenager.

“These were some of the best times for us as teenagers, it brought us together with people from all over the country when we had annual training camps and it instilled a great sense of pride when we use to wear our uniform.”

Although her father and two uncles were both in the army and her brother is currently serving in 12th Bn Limerick, Bridget says she hadn't originally intended joining the Army.

“I finished school, then went to college to do information technology, but it wasn’t my cup of tea. I couldn’t see myself doing computers or desk work in the future. I got a job as assistant manager in a children’s play centre.”

Her father was a cook in the Army who served over 23 years and one day when she went into visit him at work and took an application form.

“I filled it out, two weeks later I got a phone call asking if I would go to Collins Barracks in Cork for my fitness test, a medical and interview.”

She joined a platoon at Stephens Barracks in Kilkenny and received the Best Soldier Award when her recruit training was complete, a highlight in her career.

“I completed my first tour of duty in Eritrea, Africa in 2002/03. I loved it, the excitement of leaving Ireland to assist the UN with peacekeeping, being teamed up with soldiers from units all over the country it was great. In 2004 on a tour of duty in Liberia she first met Ken.

“He was in the Engineer Section, and would always be driving around camp in his digger. We became friends and it was his birthday while we were there. I gave him a card for a 40 year old even though he was only 29. It wasn’t until years later on his actual 40th he pulled out the card and showed it to me - he had kept it all the time.”

Tragedy struck for Bridget's family during the last few days of that mission her older brother was in a motorcycle accident and died just four days before she was due to return home.

Two years later, Bridget bumped into Ken again on a training exercise in Killinthomas Woods, Co Kildare.

“I was providing medical cover and he came over to the ambulance. We started chatting, and here we are 14 years later, married 11 years and four children, Erin (10), Molly (9), Ruby (7 )and Denis (5).

Bridget doesn't think that being a pregnant soldier in the defence forces is any different than any other job.

“I was very well looked after. Our roles can be altered if we are involved in strenuous work. I continued with my daily role of running the medical aid post, and was also involved in first aid instruction. There was never any pressure from my peers or commanders.”

Bridget and Ken lived in Charleville, Co Cork, for eight years, but decided to move back to Ken’s home village of Nobber in 2017, where they bought a bungalow that they have renovated.

“The children absolutely love it up here. They have their cousins, uncles and aunts and Ken's parents are close by.

While Bridget and Ken have gone on numerous different career courses and overseas missions, but their superiors are understanding that both of them cannot be on 24 hour duty, away on exercise or overseas at the same time.

“We have always been accommodated with this, but it is up to us to make sure the relevant people know, and things are in place.

“If I were asked the highlights so far, well I better say meeting Ken as the main one, then just being offered the opportunity to help people. I enjoy giving back and utilising the skill that the defence forces have given me.

“One of the hardest times for me was being involved in the main bearer party for the funeral of a soldier who was also a friend. His family were a big part of my life, and as hard as it was, I was proud to be able to wear my uniform for him.”

Both Bridget and Ken have given a lot to the Defence Forces.

“I am coming up on 21-year service with eight missions overseas completed and Ken is nearing his 23 years and has 10 overseas missions complete, and we have both reached the rank of sergeants.”

Bridget stresses that none of this would have being possible without the continuous support from their families.

“We will forever be grateful to them,” she says.