An Cosantóir Dec 2019/Jan 2020 www.dfmagazine.ie
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LEBANON BOUND
BY SGT WAYNE FITZGERALD PHOTOS BY ARMN SAM GIBNEY
O
n Friday 25 October Minister with Responsibility for De-
fence, Mr Paul Kehoe TD, reviewed 115 Inf Bn in Stephens
Bks, Kilkenny, accompanied by Chief of Staff Vice Admiral
Mark Mellett DSM. The ministerial review was the culmination of
the training period ahead of the battalion's six-month operational
deployment to South Lebanon with UNIFIL.
The battalion, commanded by Lt Col Robert Hurley, is com-
prised of 338 personnel drawn from the Army, Naval Service and
Air Corps. While 3 Inf Bn from Kilkenny is the main contributing
unit, the members of the battalion come from 24 different coun-
ties. 115 Inf Bn also includes nine Maltese soldiers; Malta's third
contribution to UNIFIL.
For the review 115 Inf Bn formed up on the square in Stephens
Bks, where the unit colours were marched onto the parade ground
for the first time. This was followed by an inspection of the troops,
the ministerial address, and the march past, where Minister Kehoe
took the salute, accompanied by the Mayor of Kilkenny City, Cllr
Martin Brett (FG).
Addressing the troops, Minister Kehoe said: "Participation in UNI-
FIL is a continuation of our honourable tradition of supporting the
United Nations in the cause of peace and security; a tradition span-
ning over 60 years. In particular, there is a long and proud tradition
of Irish participation in the UNIFIL mission since its establishment in
1978. You, the men and women of 115 Infantry Battalion are the lat-
est to continue this tradition."
UNIFIL is Ireland's largest single overseas deployment, and as
115 Inf Bn takes over the
Irishbatt AO from 114 Inf
Bn they will be joined by
a contingent from the
Polish armed forces and
a small group from Hun-
gary, who will serve with
the battalion.
Referencing this, the
minister said: "This is a
very welcome develop-
ment, which we look
forward to, and which
marks a new chapter of
our peacekeeping role
in Lebanon. Partnership
with other states is an
important element of
peacekeeping opera-
tions."
We wish the battal-
ion a safe and success-
ful mission.
