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Post by billy o connor on May 4, 2010 14:52:38 GMT
just visited brians unifil site and was looking at the photos of hill880 ..... brian i was on the first ever guard duty on hill 880 before anything was built there just us behind some rocks approx 100 yards from the half track..the guard itself was a rush job required as soon as the halftrack was installed by the sla...the guard was formed entirly from engineer and signal elements from hq coy....im sure joey kelly will have some words of wisdom in relation to the engineers :
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Post by Matt McNamara on Apr 22, 2011 11:29:43 GMT
Thursday April 21 2011
Irish troops will once again serve as peacekeepers in Lebanon from next month.
Defence Minister Alan Shatter confirmed he has secured Dail approval for the deployment of 440 soldiers to the United Nations-mandated force in the Middle East.
About 90 troops will depart on May 23 to set up the base camp in southern Lebanon for the main contingent, to be deployed towards the end of June.
Mr Shatter said: "It is vitally important for Ireland to maintain a level of commitment to international peacekeeping operations and the obligations it has assumed through its membership of the UN. Overseas operations contribute greatly also to the professional development of the Defence Forces."
The Irish area of operations will measure some 140km sq, extending in the Hezbollah-controlled country from Tibnin to the border with Israel.
Their role will involve the protection of civilians, extensive mobile patrolling throughout the Irish area of operations, ground holding and monitoring along the blue line.
Irish officers were first sent to Lebanon as observers in 1958, with the first battalion sent as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in 1978 formed after Israeli troops occupied the region.
A total of 47 Irish troops have lost their lives in the cause of peace in Lebanon since then. The main Defence Forces battalion was withdrawn in 2001 following 23 years of service but was deployed again in 2006 for 12 months.
This deployment will be initially for 12 months, subject to renewal, and Ireland's participation will not exceed a maximum of three to four years.
Mr Shatter said the Dail vote completed the triple-lock mechanism of UN, Government and Dail approval before deploying members of the Defence Forces overseas.
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Post by Imaal on Apr 29, 2011 16:06:51 GMT
I have found a discussion on Sandes Home (sometimes spelled as Sands) on this blog and found the recorded memories of the Home in the Curragh very interesting. I have written a good few articles on Elise Sandes iand the network of Homes she founded in Ireland, England and India. I also gave a lecture on her work to the local History Society in the Curragh a few years ago. If you wished to add an article to your historical section, no problem.
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Post by kathyo on Apr 30, 2011 15:03:25 GMT
hi matt will you have to go to the lebanon and if you do ? how long would you be gone for kathyo
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Post by danwhelan438 on May 3, 2011 18:43:27 GMT
hi matt just emailed you uptodate photo,s of the new a/o the lads will be going out to on the 23rd a lot of lads will see some diffrence .
enjoy dan
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Post by Matt McNamara on May 5, 2011 9:13:35 GMT
After a decade of trotting around the globe and serving in hotspots such as Chad, Kosovo and Eritrea, Ireland's peacekeeping troops return to south Lebanon next month.
Since the last Irish battalion left the area in 2001 after 23 years' involvement in the Unifil mission, south Lebanon has altered radically and reflects the seismic changes that are ripping through the Middle East.
But the local mukhtars have assured the troops that, despite the growing volatility, the Irish are welcome back in their old haunts.
Lieutenant Colonel Frank Bolger, the officer commanding the 104th infantry battalion, yesterday told the Irish Independent the community leaders in Tibnin -- one of the two main centres of population along with Bint Jubayl in the Irish area of operations -- had lobbied for the Irish to be deployed in their area.
The role of the 440-strong battalion, which finishes its four months of training this week, will be different to their previous mission, with an emphasis on mobile patrolling, particularly alongside the Lebanese armed forces.
The battalion will also be involved in helping to ensure humanitarian access to civilians.
The troops are finishing a mission readiness exercise at the Glen of Imaal in Co Wicklow.
- Tom Brady Security Editor
Irish Independent
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Post by andybrennan on May 5, 2011 20:39:04 GMT
To all who are about to journey to the Lebanon with UNIFIL
I wish you a safe journey and a safe return
Andy
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Post by kathyo on May 6, 2011 9:06:26 GMT
To all the lad's going to the Lebanon good luck and all the best kathyo
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Post by maryfarrell6 on May 7, 2011 8:41:55 GMT
Hi All, Its great to see the high regard our troops are held in across the globe and rightly so. An honour that has been achieved by every single soldier who has served and represented our country dating right back to the Congo in the 60's. We're proud of them one and all. So I'd like to wish all our troops getting ready to embark on this newest peacekeeping mission to the Lebanon a successful and safe trip. Best regards MaryF
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Post by maryfarrell6 on May 20, 2011 22:30:18 GMT
Hi Maura and Carmel, Was just checking this weeks Leinster Leader as I do weekly to keep up with the local news from home. I'm just wondering is that your Brian and his son Dean featured, getting ready to head off to the Leb on Irelands latest contribution to the U.N. peace-keeping force around the world? How many times and how many of your lads have left our shores wearing the blue beret of the U.N? I'd say its a fair old ammount, starting with Big Kit to the Congo in the sixties. A worrying time for all your family and indeed for the families of all the troops embarking on this latest mission. But be assured that they will now be included in all our prayers for a successful trip and their safe return. MaryF
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Post by liamkearney on May 21, 2011 9:47:55 GMT
Hi Mary, you are correct in your assumption, they are heding off o 20th June for 5 months Regards Liam Kearney.
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Post by Matt McNamara on May 21, 2011 12:28:29 GMT
Curragh troops prepare for Lebanon deployment Over 60 of the 100 plus troops from The Curragh Camp to be deployed to the Lebanon on a UN peacekeeping misison next month are from Kildare. The trip will be family affair for father and son team Sergeant Brian Kearney and Private Dean Kearney. “This will be my seventh trip,” explained Sgt Kearney speaking to the Leader ahead of the five month long overseas mission which takes place on June 23 and June 26. “My first trip to the Lebanon took place in 1988. It was my first time living away from home but you get familiar with it very quickly and you get into a routine. It was all letters back then, no e-mail or Skype, there wasn’t even a phone - Dean will have a totally different experience than me.” This will be his son Private Kearney’s first trip away with the army. “I’m nervous and excited,” said the 20-year-old. “The training has been intense. I’m looking forward to going over with all the guys - it will be a big cultural experience and a different way of life.” Sgt Kearney saw at first hand how women are treated differently over there. “When I was over there the first time a woman went by carrying a bundle of sticks while two young men walked behind her. She put down the sticks at one point as she was tired and the two men picked them up and put them back on her head. If that was over here the young men would have offered to carry the sticks for her.” Lft Daire Roche, who will also be part of the Battalion, explained some of the other differences between the two countries. “There are certain things you do and certain things you don’t do,” he said. “Particularly in the area of religion. They are mainly Muslim and Christians but there has always been an extraordinary good relations between the Lebanese and Irish. Syria is a hot plate at the moment - Lebanon is a country that has politically and geographically been caught in the middle. Things can develop quickly and the situation can change in a matter of hours. The worst case scenario would be if the Israelis attacked while we were there. The Lebanese have a go at the Israelis and the Israelis have a go at the Lebanese. There are dissident gropus within Lebanon operating on their own mandate. We are there to support the legitimate government and army. We have great confidence in our troops and in our equipment.” The troops are being deployed to Tibnin in Southern Lebanon, an area which was previously the Irish operations HQ, and they will patrol an area of around 140km. To make sure the troops are well looked after in their down time there is a welfare officer who organises quiz nights, DVD nights and sports nights. Safe trip Lads Matt
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Post by maurakearney on May 21, 2011 18:43:59 GMT
Dont they look Handsome wait until the other Son Jay passes out next week that will be a lovely picture of the three of them. Maura Kearney.
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Post by carmelkearney on May 22, 2011 0:27:44 GMT
What a great photo of Brian and Dean, Big Kit would be so so proud of them.
Carmel Kearney
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Post by maryfarrell6 on Jul 2, 2011 11:15:10 GMT
Hi Maura, Just wondering how Brian and Dean are getting on, send them my regards when you're in touch. If any of ye are looking in A big hello to All the lads and lassies out there in the Leb hope ye've settled in and that all is going well for ye keep safe and take care we're all thinking of you and it goes without saying including you in our prayers. MaryF
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