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Music and football with the natives in Congo

1960

With the 50th anniversary marked in recent weeks, there has been a real focus on the Irish Army's first United Nations mission in the Congo.

With the trauma of the Battle of Jadotville and the deaths of 26 Irish soldiers during the entire mission in Congo, the public perception of the Congo can be of a singularly negative variety.

However, it wasn't all thus as the Westmeath Independent reported in the edition of Saturday, August 27, 1960.

In an article written for the Westmeath/Offaly Independent, Sergeant with C Company of the 32nd battalion Patrick Whitney of Tullamore outlined some of the more genial memories.

"The Piper's Band is a great hit. Some days ago they played in the town of Goma. All the children disappeared from the camp as if by magic and paraded the town with the band.

"Some days later, they appeared in camp with a band of their own. It consisted of biscuit tins, milk tins with pebbles inside and one stringed instrument.

"Their star turn, however, was their leader, not more than nine years of age. He was wearing rubber boots, a paper hat and deftly handled a baton.

There was rhythm in every muscle of his little body. They "immobilised" the camp.

"On Sunday last a soccer team from the camp played a native team in Goma. It was their first time to play against Europeans. The Irish team won 7-4. Star of the side was Cpl Teddy Dowling from Athlone. I believe he was carried off the pitch at the conclusion of the game by the delighted Congolese in appreciation of his Stanley Matthews exhibition."