UN medal honour for Irish troops serving in Lebanon

IRISH troops on duty in the Lebanon wore shamrock on their berets as the UN honoured their role in peacekeeping at the weekend.

Brigadier General Pat Hayes, the commanding officer of the Southern Brigade, watched on St Patrick’s Day as 81 soldiers from the 158-strong contingent on duty close to the contentious “Blue Line” that divides Israel and Lebanon, were presented with the UNIFIL 2 medal. Thirty-seven were first-time recipients.

The medal recognises the role of UN peacekeepers.

The presentations were made in Camp Ida in Abel As Soqui where the troops, drawn mostly from Cork and Limerick, have been providing security for Finnish engineers clearing mines and in construction since October.

The troops, usually on Finnish rations, began St Patrick’s day with a full Irish breakfast.

They were presented with shamrock by Lieutenant Colonel Fergus Hannon and later staged a parade of armoured personnel carriers and other equipment inside their compound.

They also hosted several visits from members of other international forces serving with UNIFIL.