As soon as the news of Pte Billy Kedian's death was transmitted early yesterday, the flag at Dun Ui Mhaoiliosa barracks in Renmore, Co Galway, was lowered to halfmast. All three soldiers involved in yesterday's mortar attack had been based at Renmore and had left for their tour of duty with the 85th Battalion only a month ago.
Pte Kedian is the third soldier from An Cead Cath, the First Battalion, to have died in Lebanon, and the fifth such fatality with Galway/Mayo connections. It was his second tour of duty with UNIFIL - previously he served with the 82nd Battalion.
Pte Darren Clarke, who received superficial injuries yesterday, is from Swinford, Co Mayo, while Pte Ronald Rushe, whose condition was described as "critical but stable" in hospital in Haifa, is from Boggadh, Co Offaly.
Funeral arrangements were still being discussed yesterday, and a spokesman said the final decision on full military honours would be a matter for the Kedian family.
The remains of Pte Kedian may be flown home to Ballyhaunis via Knock Airport, if possible, to save the family having to travel to Dublin.
The loss of former colleagues in Lebanon was to have been remembered later this month at the 75th anniversary of the Renmore Barracks.
Pte Kevin Joyce from the Aran Islands is still reported as missing in action after his observation post came under attack near Dayrntar in south Lebanon on March 27th, 1981. In spite of exhaustive searches, his body has never been found.
On March 21st, 1989, Cpl Fintan Heneghan died as a result of injuries sustained in an explosion, when the vehicle in which he was travelling struck a landmine near Brashit.
Two other Galway soldiers did not return home from their last tour of duty in the Middle East. Pte Stephen Griffin from Rahoon, Galway, died in 1980; his sister, Catherine, works in Renmore.
In August, 1986, Lieut Aengus Murphy from Tuam, Co Galway, became the 19th member of the Defence Forces serving with UNIFIL to be killed, when he died in a bomb explosion outside AtTiri. Two members of his platoon were injured. His father is a recently retired Army officer, and his brother, Capt Conal Murphy, is based at Renmore.
Some 35 soldiers from Renmore left with the current tour of duty in late April, and Army representatives spent much of yesterday morning contacting families before the names of Pte Kedian and his injured colleagues were released. Many colleagues had left Galway for an All-Army shoot in the Curragh, and the barracks also has a heavy commitment at present to Portlaoise jail.
Lieut Col Martin Coughlan, Officer Commanding the 1st Battalion, said it was a time of great sadness. "They know when they are going there that they are doing a dangerous job, but they do it very well and very professionally."
The Mayor of Galway, Cllr Angela Lynch-Lupton, expressed her deepest sympathies yesterday on behalf of the city to the Kedian family and to the Defence Forces. She is due to take a guard of honour in the Renmore Barrack Square on June 15th and unveil a plaque to mark the 75th anniversary. It was 75 years ago this month that An Chead Cathlan Cois - to give it its full Irish title - was established in the Curragh as the first Irish-speaking unit of the Defence Forces.
The battalion was moved briefly to the Hibernian School in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, and then to Galway in May, 1925. An Chead Cath enlisted its recruits mainly from the Gaeltacht areas of Galway, Donegal, Cork, Kerry and Waterford, with all training and administration being through Irish.
