Ministerial Review of 123 Inf Bn UNIFIL prior to deployment to Lebanon
An Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Mr Micheál Martin T.D., accompanied by the Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy, reviewed the men and women of the 123rd Infantry Battalion prior to their departure for a six-month deployment to Lebanon as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Mac Eoin, the 123rd Infantry Battalion have been in training for the past two months and are scheduled to deploy to Lebanon next month with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The UNIFIL mission continues to represent Ireland’s largest overseas deployment.
The 123rd Infantry Battalion will deploy to the UNIFIL area of operations with 343 personnel (9 Maltese and 334 Irish) in November 2023. Drawn primarily from Stephen's Barracks, Kilkenny, the 123rd Infantry Battalion will replace the 122nd Infantry Battalion from Limerick who deployed to Lebanon last May. There are 86 soldiers within the 123rd Infantry Battalion deploying on their first overseas peacekeeping mission. There are also 20 female personnel deploying.
The ceremonial occasion consisted of a parade, a blessing of the 123rd Infantry Battalion unit flag, Ministerial Inspection and address in Kilkenny Castle
Pic 1.1: 123rd Infantry Battalion on parade in Kilkenny Castle, Limerick
Pic 1.2: An Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Mr Micheál Martin T.D. reviews the men and women of 123rd Infantry Battalion
Pic 1.3: Members of the 123rd Infantry Battalion salute An Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Mr Micheál Martin T.D
Pic 1.4: Members of the 123nd Infantry Group on parade behind Battalion Sergeant Major John Kelleher.
ENDS