Holly, Aidan
July 09, 2008
A Great-grand nephew of Independence hero Con Colbert, Aidan Holly was following in a proud family tradition when he took up arms in service of the state as a fully fledged army private last November.
An adventurous spirit, Aidan was never happier than when on his travels - either across Europe or through the United States, in search of the next meaningful encounter with new friends and new experiences.
Born to Con and Marie Holly in Chapel Street, Tarbert, in 1984, Aidan was the third of four children, including his older brothers, David and Conor, and younger sister, Orla. from a young age he displayed some of the many aspects of character that would mark him in out in early adulthood - fierce independence, great humour and compassion. A student of Tarbert Comprehensive School, an avid footballer player with Tarbert GAA and an avid soccer player with Ferry Rangers (for whom he won Player of the year in 2005), he barely wasted a minute of his young life and threw himself into a carpentry apprenticeship after school with absolute dedication.
He began that apprenticeship in Killorglin, and it was to take him throughout much of South Kerry, where he made many new friends again, from Killorglin to Killarney. All along, however, he was weighing up his options in respect of the defence Forces, but while anxious to apply for the army as early as possible he was adamant he would qualify as a carpenter first. He did so in May of Last year in Killarney, and no sooner than his carpentry skills were officially recognised than Aidan began to hatch another, extra-curricular, great adventure that would take him up to his induction into the Irish Army. This was to be a feat of real endurance: A solo cycle around the entire island, to which he applied himself with steely determination.
Six weeks later he returned to Tarbert, having made many new friends along the way, from Donegal to Kerry. He travelled to Cork almost immediately to begin Army Training out of Collins Barracks, and it was a life that suited his individual skill perfectly - his ability to communicate and work well with others and his love of testing conditions.
In joining the army, he would have been informed in his decision by his own deep love of irish history. His great-granduncle, Con Colbert, was after all one of the first major leaders of the irish defence forces and other relations - including a granduncle in Cork - had also served with distinction. Aidan looked forward to a promising career in their footsteps.
But it would have been one hat would have been very much his own, as with everything else he turned his versatile hand to.
Courtesy of the Kerryman
9th July, 2008
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