58th Infantry Battalion UNIFIL

On Gate Duty at the UN Post at R'Shaf is Micky Mc. The Barrel beside him (To the Right), could tell a story or two...

Mick is seen here again, this time with his M35 (Truck) near to "The Black Hole". These trucks were amazing things, and could run on almost anything, from Petrol to Diesel, with no modification whatsoever, and were the Back Bone of Irish Transport in Lebanon for a long time.

IRISHBATT AML 90s on the Range. Range practice is always a necessity to keep skills up to scratch. You can see from this picture the force from the blast was felt by the Photographer, resulting is a rather shaky photo. - Photo: TP Devanney.

Most UN Posts had electricity of some sort. some got it from the local grid, though this was never reliable and could go at any time, so a Generator was always on StandBy just in case. Some other Posts relied completely on "Gennies" for power. Here we see can Kevin Nicel, Kevin Malone and Henry Brady building a new home for the Generators at UN Post 6-19c. Unfortunately due to a "Flaw in the plans".. It had to be knocked again the very next day....

Mick Mc. is seen here manning a Machine Gun position at R'Shaf.

L-R Mick Bourke, Tony "Bulldog" Davis, ????, and Sean Gavin. Trying their hand at the construction business during the 58th

This photo was taken at the UN Post in Rshaf and shows Mick McDermott observing through binoculars, from the Observation Post on the roof. November 1985.

Mick Bourke and Gay Lally at Brashit. The Irish Battalions were still carrying the FN Rifle at this time, as their personal weapon, and it went literally everywhere with you. Photo: Mick Bourke.

Mick McDermott seen here on the right with Martin the Medic from B Company of the 58th Irish Battalion. Even numbered Battalions with UNIFIL were always winter trips. You only have to look at their boots to confirm this...

There's never a UN wagon around when you need one, as Mick Bourke found out on his way to the checkpoint.

Danny O'Hanlon and Henry Brady pictured at the post that overlooked the Chekpoint in Shaqra.

March 1986 saw Mick Mc on the checkpoint at At-Tiri. Not too much traffic around.. At-Tiri is a place well known to all Irish Troops. It is a village that has seen a lot of suffering and challenges, not only for the Irish, but for the local population as well, at one stage the village was almost deserted with less than 10% of the locals remaining in their homes.

Mick McDermott and Doc Docherty on Checkpoint Duty at Haddatah, December 1985.

Happy days for these guys from B Company of the 58th Battalion. Job Done! waiting to board an Aer Lingus Jumbo Jet on the Tar-Mac at Tel-Aviv on their way home.

Mick McDermott of "B" Company, 58th Infantry Battalion in "Courtown House" in Haddatah. November 1985.

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