Interview with Dr. Cathal Berry TD

17 - July , 2020

Interview with Dr. Cathal Berry TD

Project: Kildare’s Veterans’ Story

Taking part in our Kildare’s Veterans’ Story project today was Óglaigh na hÉireann / Irish Defence Forces veteran Dr Cathal Berry TD in Newbridge, Co. Kildare. Cathal is an Independent TD for the constituency of Kildare South. Cathal is a father, husband, doctor, veteran and is a resident of Portarlington, Co. Laois. He is married to Orla and is the proud father of their young children Tom and Katie.

Prior to becoming a TD, Cathal spent 23 years in the Irish Defence Forces. He entered military service in with the Cadet School, Military College, Curragh Camp in 1995. After a tough 21 months training he was commissioned into the Infantry Corps. During his time in the Defence Forces, he spent six years in the Army Ranger Wing (ARW) and served overseas in the Balkans, Africa and the Middle East. In 2008, Cathal led an ARW unit in Chad. He later took a self-funded career break to qualify as a medical doctor in Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

He subsequently worked in the HSE Ireland hospital emergency departments all over the country and then returned to the Defence Forces where he was appointed head of the Military Medical School in the Curragh, Co. Kildare. He retired from service at the rank of Commandant.

Dr Cathal Berry TD with two members of his team: Lesley Walsh and Philip Coy, both of whom are also former members of the Defence Forces. Lesley, a Newbridge native, spent 24 years in the Defence Forces, serving in the 3rd Infantry Battalion, DFTC, and Chief of Staff’s Division, DFHQ. Philip (Busty) is a Curragh native serving 24 years in the Defence Forces primarily in the Military Detention Unit and the Transport Company in the DFTC. (Photo by John O’Byrne)
Wesley Bourke interviewing Dr Cathal Berry TD . (Photo by John O’Byrne)


This supported by Kildare County Council Heritage Office and Creative Ireland.