Troops to parade through Donegal Town before departing for Lebanon

The 109th Infantry Battalion, which has been training at Finner Camp, will take to the streets of Donegal Town next Monday head of their six month deployment to Lebanon next month.

Minister for Defence, Paul Kehoe, TD will be on hand to review the troops on this, the first time that personnel from Finner have marked their departure to Lebanon by such a march in Donegal Town.

Among the 336 personnel are 59 members of the 28th Infantry Battalion, which is based at Finner and is the largest unit in the battalion.

The 109th was formed last month, with its headquarters based at Finner Camp, and the unit has undertaken extensive training here in Donegal as well as at Gormanstown Camp in Co. Meath and the Glen of Imaal in Co. Wicklow.

Members of the Infantry, Military Police, Cavalry, CIS, Engineers, Ordnance, Artillery, Transport & Medical Corps, Air Corps and the Naval Service are all represented in the battalion, which also includes 21 female personnel.

In south Lebanon, the troops will serve as part of UNIFIL (United Nation Interim Force In Lebanon), assuming the lead of IRISHFINBATT, which also includes a company of Finnish soldiers, and a platoon of Estonian troops.

Together, they will man observation posts along the Blue Line near the Zone of Separation. The Blue Line, or line of withdrawal, to call it by its proper name, was established in 2,000 to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon and UNIFIL have been on the ground there for the last ten years.

The 109th Infantry Battalion will assemble and parade at The Quay car park, Donegal Town at 1.30pm , where the Minister for Defence will review and address the troops. They will then parade through the town and on to the St John Bosco Centre.