Not a recruiting drive, but Cork primary school pupils pledge to join army

It was not meant to be a recruiting drive but it was little wonder the sight of both the defence minister and chief of staff of the Defence Forces led to scores of national schoolchildren pledging to join up when age permits.

It was also a ‘first’ yesterday at the largest primary school in Munster when Defence Minister Simon Coveney and vice-admiral Mark Mellett turned up to present the 890 pupils at Scoil Nioclais in Frankfield, Douglas, Co Cork, with the national flag and a copy of the Proclamation under the Flags for Schools initiative.

In true military style, senior infants lined up to form a guard of honour as the VIPs arrived and a choir sang the national anthem.