Gerry McMahon
Interviewed for MAOHP - 10/02/2017
Reference Code: IE_MA_MAC_006_MAOHP_001_H
Location(s): Cathal Brugha Barracks
Length: 3.58
In this piece of audio from February 2017, Lieutenant General McMahon recalls a story he heard from Col. Seán Clancy regarding General Michael Brennan (Chief of Staff from October 1931 to January 1940), which underlines the importance of 'civil control of the military'. The story related to the election of Fianna Fáil to government when Brennan was Chief of Staff. Brennan, a native of Meelick in County Clare, had been on the Free State side of the Civil War and it was felt that this may have caused tension. Clancy informed Gerry that Brennan had insisted that the army had to accept the will of the people and to 'defend that democracy'.
