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Story Notes
1996 was the 50th anniversary of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil or the FCA as it was more commonly known. It comprised 15,000 auxiliary soldiers of all ages and both sexes.
After the war years the FCA was developed from its antecedence the LDF, and the LSF.
Contributors to the programme include retired commandant Jim Dukes, who remembers the initial years of the force. The typical FCA member is personified by another contributor to the programme, Caroline Young. She talks about her enlistment, training and the commitment involved in being a part-time soldier.
The title 'Bulls Wool Coats and Nail Boots' will bring prickles to the neck of anyone who ever shared a Sunday bus seat with personnel from that particular limb of the armed forces.
Produced by Aodán Ó'Dubhghaill
'Bulls Wool Coats and Nail Boots' was first broadcast on 3rd october 1996.
An Irish radio documentary from RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland - Documentary on One - the home of Irish radio documentaries.