A boot camp for life skills

AN Irish army officer has come to the rescue of desperate mothers and wives and set up a life skills boot camp for husbands and sons.

Battalion Sergeant Major Pat Neilan’s training doesn’t involve killing wild animals for food or building a shelter from tree branches.

His unique ‘How To’ session involves equipping the male population with simple day-to-day skills like polishing shoes, ironing trousers (without using an iron) and tying a tie.!

Hundreds of fed-up wives, sisters and mothers have already enquired about the course which runs at Donegal’s County Museum in Letterkenny on Tuesday, May 24.

The idea for the sessions came as a result of a chance conversation between Sgt Major Neilan, who is based at Finner Camp, and Caroline Carr from Donegal County Museum.

Sgt Major Neilan, who has 41-years experience and has served in 14 countries including Cyprus, Libya, Bosnia, Ethiopia and Liberia, said standards are definitely slipping.

“Most kids these days think the floor is their wardrobe. Hopefully, we can change that with a few simply steps,” he said. “These days it’s so important that people present themselves well because the competition out there for jobs and the likes is very tough.

“A lot of men can’t tie a tie and if they can, it takes a week to untie it. We’re going to show them how to tie a proper knot.

“There’s a few other things, but we think it’s going to be a great benefit to a lot of people,” he said.

Ms Carr says she has been inundated with enquiries about the course from people trying to get their sons, brothers, fathers and husbands better equipped for the outside world.

She has already had a call from one woman who is planning to drive for an hour with her son to get a life-lesson from Sgt Major Neilan on appearance.

“The phone hasn’t stopped ringing. It’s amazing the amount of people who don’t have these simply skills but who want them.

“All I can say is that a session with Pat Neilan and they will have them for life. I think he may have just found himself a new career after the army,” she said.

Admission to the sessions is free, but people are asked to bring along their own tie.

For further information contact the Donegal County Museum on 074-9124613 or email: [e-mail]