Sligo troops mark holiday
SLIGO TROOPS serving in the Lebanon celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with colleagues in the 107 IrishFinn Battalion.
There was a particularly poignant moment for Private Owen McLoughlin who laid a wreath at a Tibnin memorial which includes the name of his late father Cpl Dermot McLoughlin, who was killed on UN duty.
The current deployment to the Lebanon consists of 360 personnel spread over three locations including the UNIFIL Force Headquarters in Naquora, the Sector West Headquarters in Camp Sharma and Camp Shamrock-home to the 332 Irish troops of the 107 IrishFinn Battalion.
The troops in Camp Shamrock celebrated St. Patrick’s Day commencing with a special Mass and blessing of shamrock by Fr David Tyndall, Chaplain to the 107 Battalion.
This was followed by a medal parade where members on their first trip overseas received their UNIFIL medal for service in the name of peace with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
They also received the UN peacekeepers medal on behalf of the Irish Government.
Battalion Commander Lt Col Dave Dignam accompanied by the Senior Irish Officer Colonel Philip Brennan presented shamrock to all members of the Battalion.
Troops enjoyed a traditional Irish stew lunch prepared by Sergeant Mulhall. Several of the troops also took part in the Pte Davy Allen Memorial 10km road race to raise funds for the St. Vincent de Paul.