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Mick O'Dwyer, legendary Kerry GAA manager and footballer, has died aged 88
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Lieutenant Colonel Brendan Delany, pictured with his family, wife Mairead, Niamh (11), Joe (14) and Siobhan (15) today at Cathal Brugha Barracks. Photocall Ireland
43rd Infantary Group
Pictures: Irish troops on parade in Rathmines sunshine ahead of Syria mission
The 115 members of the 43rd Infantary Group were reviewed by Minister Alan Shatter before gathering with their families ahead of the first deployment tomorrow.
THE IRISH DEFENCE Forces members due to head out to Syria in the coming days took part in the traditional ‘review of the troops’ ceremony in warm September sunshine this afternoon. The ‘first chalk’ of the group is set to fly out to the Middle East tomorrow, with the remainder departing on the 18th.
They will be taking part in the long-established UNDOF mission in the Golan Heights region, on the border with Israel.
Established in 1973 following the Yom Kippur War, the UN mission was set up to maintain the ceasefire between the two countries. Its mandate has been renewed every six months, but this is the first time Irish troops will take part.
Defence Minister Alan Shatter sought to allay safety concerns as he spoke after the ceremony at Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines, saying that safety was always “a primary concern” with every mission.
“We have a very competent and well trained Defence Forces,” the Minister said.
“By virtue of the nature of the work you are going to troubled regions,” he noted, adding that the troops had a “very important role to play” in ensuring the conflict didn’t spill over into a dispute between Syria and Israel.
The oldest personnel member taking part will be 58-year-old CQMS Tony Fitzgerald, who has completed ten tours of duty so far; his first in Sinai in 1974 as a rifleman. The youngest is 21-year-old Private David Ross.
Drawn primarily from the 2nd Brigade of the Army (which covers the northern half of the country), the troops will be commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Brendan Delaney, who has previously completed tours in East Timor and Lebanon – as well as six months in Syria and a tour of duty with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.
Brendan spoke to TheJournal.ie about the troops’ preparations, what they will be doing on a day-to-day basis, and the protocol they’ve been trained to observe in the event of chemical weapons attacks:
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What a brilliant out of the box idea – where they whole world is turning extreme right it’s refreshing to see the possibilities to be had while providing a service to African countries. We get bashed from pillar to post by politicians and inquiry after inquiry and sometimes lose track of what makes Irish people great.
@Paul: So a good news story about an African country gets dragged down by someone virtue signalling their hatred of all things right wing. IMO it’s a great story as it shows what people can do for themselves if given the help and resources to get started, One needs seed capital to participate in capitalism, these credit unions appear to be doing the right thing in getting economic activity going. Like many in the West they too wanted and have opted for change in government, here’s hoping the new guy can govern well and support these business people.
@Paul: Capitalism at its best, private individuals and organisations taking matters into their own hands instead of waiting for the government to do something about it.
My Dad worked with the Irish League of Credit Unions in the Gambia to help train local people and set up Credit Unions in 1998 and again in 2000. I’ve sent him this link. It’ll make his day.
Mick O'Dwyer, legendary Kerry GAA manager and footballer, has died aged 88
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World leaders slam Trump tariffs as EU insists it's 'not too late' for negotiations
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