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Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Get in touch on WhatsApp 087 484 888 And 51551 for your text or live line at rte.ie if you want to, well, talk to us about anything at all, really. William Sullivan, good afternoon.
Well, hello, how are you doing?
I'm very well, and yourself?
I'm not about it, what better to be on me?
Will you tell me, William, about the Irish Military Museum? Where is it?
It's one of those places isn't it where there was many's a battle over the years and hopefully a friendly battles in more recent times over who's from what county is it? so it doesn't bother me.
I come from a similar situation, similar place myself, but it's all good-natured battles these days. What was it about war and weapons and the military that fascinated you into setting up the Irish Military Museum?
Well, when I was seven years old, I found a coin belonging to my granddad and... That was the beginning of it. My mother told me he was a chef and my dad told me he was a chef in the British Army. And later on in life, I just kept collecting and trying to find out more about him.
And the only story I could hear about him was my auntie would say, he'd always say when he was coming in from the farm, you'll get used to sleeping on top of dead bodies, but I can't stand rats. So when I, only two years ago, Say that again, say that again. You'll get used to sleeping on top of dead bodies, but I can't stand rats.
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Chapter 2: What is the Irish Military Museum and why is it significant?
that's that's how it came about you know from your granddad's coin you started collecting yeah it's kind of a hobby that went mad that's the best way they're the best ones aren't they ah yeah listen don't get me wrong i've had i've been we've been open 12 years we opened in 2014 but officially opened in 2015 but It's been the best 12 years of my life.
I've had nothing but fun, crack, met fantastic people, met fantastic reenactors that bring history to life. You know, and just because somebody's dressed up as a German or a British soldier or an American, it doesn't mean that they're that way inclined. They're just telling the story about that section of history, you know. So people seem to think, oh, Jesus, no, that's not right.
They're just telling the story. And when they come in here, they can see the equipment and the guys will tell them and talk to them about it, you know.
William, I want to get your story on a better line. So I'll be back to you in just a moment. It's 51551 if you want to get in touch or 0874848888. Ger, how are you doing? I'm fairly good, yourself? I'm good, thank you very much. And Ger, you, well, you know, William, tell me about your involvement with the Irish Military Museum.
Yeah, it happened about five years ago. I came free one day and had done a job and finished lunchtime. I was like, you know what, let's go and visit that museum up in Meath. And I just went from there. And what happened was, it just put a seed in my brain after seeing his private collection, is that I'd love to have my own proper little collection, you know, of Militaria.
And then it kind of expanded into me My first ever kind of, what do you say, they do reenactment events and weekend events. And you get some traders there. We have our own stalls and we have bits and pieces of our own collection that we sell. And that kind of inspired me to go, you know, I'd love to go and buy some stuff. Learn about the history of the military that I'm selling.
And I just went from there. And from day one, the very first show I did was with Willie. And basically, he just took me under his wing. The guy, you know, you talk to, that's the kind of guy he is. He's open arms to everybody. Doesn't matter what you're into in history.
Ger, what is it about military weapons or memorabilia from war, things like that, that interests you? I'm trying to wonder, I suppose, as William said as well, he went a bit mad with this hobby. What is it that interests you so much?
What interests me is my grandfather, first and foremost.
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Chapter 3: What inspired the founder's passion for military history?
I have his World War Medal. My father was in the military. So I kind of grew up in a military background. And it's just always been fascinating to me to learn about different parts of history. You know, World War I, World War II, Vietnam. There's so many interesting different aspects to all of it. You know, the good, the bad, and the indifferent.
But it's just a very diverse... You'll never stop learning about military history. And first and foremost, again, it's history. is most important. You know, it's not all about guns. You know, there's medals, there's uniforms, there's, you know, rare artefacts, there's trench art.
Is it a certain type of person, Ger, that's into this? Or would some people say that to you now, that I don't want to know about war or I'm not into guns or things like that? Would anyone be negative about your interest or your hobby?
Well, you're always going to get people being negative about any hobby. Yeah, you do get people, you know, raising eyebrows, but when you explain to them the reason why you do it and, you know, and the history behind things, you know,
people then get educated and understand because until then, all they'll see is certain things online and they'll go down the wrong route of thinking, oh, this is something more sinister, which it's not. It's pure history. And that's exactly what we have to... Like, I've seen kids grow up in Whitty's Place from visiting their first event. They're now reenactors.
They dress in World War II British military gear. And some of those guys know more than me. because it's purely historical and it interests them.
Sorry, what did you mean by sinister? Somebody thinks that there's something untoward about people who like dressing up in old war costumes or things like that?
Yeah, some people just, you know, they don't see beyond a uniform where it's purely historical. because it is in history. But as I say, all the people that are involved, and it comes from a vast array of backgrounds, lives, jobs. It's very, very diverse, the people that collect as well.
And William, you're back with me there as well. Is there a lot of interest in the museum? Do many people come to look at your collection and what Ger has there as well? And has that changed in recent years, I'm wondering?
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