10th platoon members of Army Apprentice School in Naas celebrate 50th anniversary

It's over 17 years since the Army Apprentice School in Naas shut its door for the last time, but the memories of the comradeship and bonds that were formed in the school will remain with the former pupils forever.

The Osprey Hotel and the county council office now stand in the place where many young men learned a trade and were given work at a time when there wasn't much in the way of employment to be found.

34 of the platoon that graduated with trades in 1968 celebrated the 50 year reunion of their entry into the school last Saturday night in Killashee Hotel.

Martin Nure, who worked in the school from 1976 until 1996 has fond memories of the place. "I have great memories of my time there. It was where I played my first game of snooker, something we always enjoyed", he said.

"I used to enjoy the tactical training, where we would practice different battle drills and the summer camps to the Lee(Kerry) were always a highlight of the year."

The one thing he misses most is the close bond he shared with the rest of the apprentices and staff during his time there. "There was great comradeship. When I left I lost that. We talked about that the other night and how we all missed the comradeship around the school", he said.

Graduates of the school were given useful apprenticeships that could be used in the army, such as becoming fitters or electricians.