Defence Forces enlisted for Full of the Pipe debut! 

04/07/2025

There’s always something new and exciting going on at Full of the Pipe and this year’s event is going to be a historic one as for the first time the drivers from the NSRC unit of the Defence Forces will be displaying some of their magnificent vehicles. We touched base with the man behind this exciting development, Shane Morris, to find out more. 

An exciting first at Full of the Pipe Convoy 25 will be the appearance of a number of wonderful Irish Defence Forces vehicles.  

A member of the Defence Forces for 18 years, driver and transport manager Shane Morris is currently stationed in the National Stores Reception Centre, the main supply depot for national and international troop operations and the base from which all logistics for missions and mission resupply are handled. 

Involved in a vast and dynamic array of military transport and heavy haulage on a daily basis, Shane and his colleagues in the NSRC operate a wonderful fleet of trucks and are delighted to have the opportunity to present some of these to the public and their fellow truckers at Full of the Pipe 2025. 

It’s very unique to have Óglaigh na hÉireann vehicles displayed publicly and this first-of-a-kind venture will provide a rare insight into a truck-themed aspect of army operations that most people are probably unfamiliar with. 

As a keen trucker himself and a man who already had a massive interest in Full of the Pipe, Shane was pleased to be able to get the green light to become part of the 2025 event. “It’s going to be nice to get to experience it from the other side now, rather than just as a spectator,” he notes. “Because a lot of us in the NSRC drive trucks and have an interest in and passion for them, we have attended a number of truck shows over the years. 

“We’ve been to both the Tipperary Truck Show and Full of the Pipe and always enjoyed the experience. I just thought ‘wouldn’t it be great if we could bring along some of our trucks and have them involved in the show?’… 

“I contacted the officer to see if it might be possible to have our trucks there, because you never see army trucks at a truck show. The officer checked to see if we could get them in and once it was approved I then rang Kevin and let’s just say he was delighted to hear from me! 

“As far as I know, he had made enquiries into getting our vehicles involved before but nothing came of it, so things worked out perfectly this time for all parties and we are just delighted that we are going to be part of the show.”   

Located conveniently and centrally - not far from Mondello Park, as it happens! - in The Curragh, County Kildare, the National Stores Reception Centre (NSRC) is a key logistics hub for the Irish Defence Forces, serving as the main supply depot for both national and international troop operations. It handles all logistics related to missions and mission resupply, including the movement of equipment and supplies. 

The Defence Forces will be bringing no fewer than five trucks to Full of the Pipe – a Scania R500 black artic with a recruitment trailer on it, two 8x8 hook loader trucks, an 8x8 recovery vehicle, and an 8x4 MAN truck with 100-tonne Palfinger crane. 

“We’re a small unit within the defence forces, providing in-house haulage solutions. We deal with a lot of troops going overseas and coming back home, where we’d take their baggage to the airport in a container and pack the plane for them. 

“As well as that, we also provide heavy lifting solutions to various divisions with low loader and crane support. A lot of the work we do is hook loader movements and we use the two Scania R560s on a daily basis for these and also do a lot of low loader work with them. If Galway, Cork or Limerick need anything big moved, we will go and move it for them.” 

The NSRC is a national Defence Forces asset, providing a heavy lift capability across all brigades and is also on standby for aid to the civil authority tasks (such as the distribution of large generators across Ireland earlier ths year during Storm Eowyn relief efforts). Its fleet currently comprises twelve vehicles and in keeping with life in the Defence Forces there is a massive amount of variety involved in daily activities at the National Stores Reception Centre, where every truck and piece of equipment is painstakingly kept in immaculate condition at all times. 

“No two days are the same here and that’s definitely one of the best things about this job. Every day is different and I really like that.” 

Looking ahead to the Defence Forces’ historic maiden visit to Full of the Pipe, Captain Jennifer Larkin from the Supply & Transport Corps comments: “It’s nice to show people that we have the transport element as well because this is one of the lesser-seen sides of the Defence Forces.” 

Shane adds: “When people think of army vehicles, they probably think automatically of armoured personnel carriers or something like that but we’re working away here behind the scenes and have some great trucks. 

“I was over the moon once I knew we were definitely going to be part of Full of the Pipe. It’s the biggest show in Ireland and we are really excited about being on board. To be over there and have the chance to sample the atmosphere from the other side is going to be really special. 

“If all goes as well as we are expecting, I’d be hoping that this is the start of something new and that we will also get approval for other shows. It would be great to make this a regular thing and to be able to get out there more with our vehicles and to engage with the public at shows.” 

And, finally, what are the chances of the Defence Forces escorting a trophy back to the Curragh to cap off their first appearance at Full of the Pipe? “That would be the icing on the cake,” Shane enthuses. “Who knows, if all goes well, hopefully we might win something. We’ll be doing our best. The recruitment truck has a lot of nice extras including chrome alloys and chrome light bars, so that one is going to turn a few heads, I’d imagine.” 

Shane has recently started up a new TikTok channel where he is posting videos to showcase the NSRC vehicles and their activities. You can follow him on TikTok at Sham8752. 

Full of the Pipe Truck Show Ireland is on July 12 & 13 in Mondello Park