Siege of Jadotville survivor to give talk at Turlough Museum
Lt Noel Carey and No 3 Platoon with the UN helicopter that landed on their positions during the Battle of Jadotville. Image taken from the private collection of Lt Carey, ACC-2017, courtesy of the Military Archives
The last surviving officer from the famous Battle of Jadotville in the Congo in 1961 is to speak at a special Mayo Day event honouring military heroes at home and abroad.
Mayo Military Heroes takes place from 10.30am to 4.30pm on Saturday next, May 2. It is organised by O.N.E (the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel) and hosted at the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar.
Retired Army Captain Noel Carey will speak on the day about his experiences at Jadotville during a United Nations' mission to the Congo.
Previously described as the Irish army's 'forgotten battle', the heroic efforts of the Irish soldiers during a bloody five-day siege at Jadotville received some long overdue recognition through the gripping Netflix drama in 2016 starring Jamie Dornan.
Captain Noel Carey and his comrades were awarded the Jadotville Medal for Bravery in 2017 for their service.
Other speakers on the day include Captain Donal Buckley (Ret'd), who will remember some of Mayo's military heroes down through the years, and Commander Ron Howko from the American Legion branch in Claremorris.
There will be a display of military vehicles, some information stands from the Irish Defence Forces, and a performance by the Foxford Brass and Reed Band.
Captain Buckley is coordinating the event as part of the county-wide Mayo Day celebrations. He explained the importance of highlighting and celebrating Mayo's military heroes.
"When you think of Mayo you may not necessarily think of military heroes. However, the county boasts many military heroes down through the generations," he said. "There have been 12 recipients from Mayo awarded a Medal of Honour in the United States, which is quite extraordinary.
"There have been three Victoria Crosses awarded for service in the United Kingdom. We have living here in Mayo with us Captain Noel Carey, who is the last surviving officer from Jadotville. It is important to learn from their experiences and highlight their contributions."
Admission to Mayo's Military Heroes is free. All are welcome to come along to see the military vehicles and other activities on the day.
Booking is required for the talks which take place in the Audio Visual Theatre at Turlough Park. Visit www.museum.ie for full programme details and to book a talk.
Join 'Cures of Ireland' author Cecily Gilligan for a fascinating exploration of Ireland’s rich tradition of folk healing.
Taking place at 2pm on Saturday, May 16, this engaging talk draws on nearly 40 years of research, during which Cecily travelled the country collecting stories and remedies from traditional healers. From cures for mumps and styes to treatments for eczema and sprains, she explores the traditions passed down through generations and examines how some age-old practices have survived into the modern day. Booking is required. Visit www.museum.ie for further details.
See a new exhibition of photography exploring rural Ireland from a skateboard, on display in the Courtyard Gallery (next to the café).
Róidín examines aspects of the lived, social and economic history of rural Ireland through a series of spaces, reflecting on a range of themes from loss and dereliction to endurance, resilience, and renewal. The images and stories were compiled in 2025 for a special issue of the Irish skateboarding publication, .
