Defense Forces Reservists To Take Part In New York Parade

Members of the Irish 58th Reserve Infantry Battalion will be travelling to New York to take part in the world's largest St Patrick's Day Parade.

The 58th Reserve Infantry Battalion is a unit of the Army reserve with an area of operations which stretches from Malin Head to Carrick on Shannon and includes the Counties of Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim.

Over 30 personnel will be taking part in the parade and marching down Fifth Avenue.

Comdt Gerry Jordan , their spokesperson and one of the organisers of the trip, explained how this all came about. "There are strong ties with the 69th Regiment and one of its most famous General's is Michael Corcoran a native of Carrowkeel, Ballymote.

"The Garrison HQ of the 69th Infantry Regiment is in New York City and their battle cry is "Faugh an Beallach" - Clear the Way".

The Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg unveiled a monument to the Fighting 69th in Ballymote on August 22, 2006.

The inscription around the top of the monument, sculpted by Philip Flanagan, reads "Michael Corcoran 1827 - 1863".

Underneath the monument is a piece of steel from the World Trade Center, donated by the Sligo family of Michael Lynch, who died in the twin towers on September 11, 2001.

In acknowledgement of the honour shown by the 58 Reserve Infantry Battalion to Mayor Bloomberg and also to Major General Vincent E Boles, U.S. Army, who visited Ballymote in 2009, the St Patrick's Day Parade and Celebration Committee, New York and the 69th Infantry Regiment invited us to take part in the 2010 Parade."

"This is truly a great honour and privilege for the 58 Reserve Infantry Battalion and this has been reflected in the number of members taking part, totally at their own expense," Comdt Jordan added.

Comdt Fintan Dunne, Officer Commanding 58th Battalion, added that this is the first Defence Force military group, to march in America since the funeral of President John F Kennedy in 1963.

He added that it is indeed a great honour for the unit to represent the Defence Forces at the Parade.