Irish troops head to Sweden for elite EU battle group training

One of the largest military convoys ever seen in this country travelled along Cork roads yesterday as part of an exercise which will shortly see Irish troops become part of an elite EU rapid reaction force.

At 5.30am yesterday, a total of 55 vehicles travelled between Collins Barracks and Ringaskiddy Port where they will be loaded onto a ship and transported to Sweden.

Today 158 troops from 1 Brigade will fly out and be reunited with their equipment for a major exercise, before being put on standby as members of an EU battle group which could be deployed anywhere in the world on peacekeeping, peace-enforcing or humanitarian duties.