Memorial Unveiled in Athy County Kildare Ireland

The memorial was unveiled yesterday in Athy County Kildare Ireland

A memorial has been unveiled in Athy in remembrance of four soldiers who lost their lives in the Lebanon on 14 February 2000.

Twenty-three years have now passed since Privates Declan Deere, Jonathan Murphy, Matthew Lawlor and Brendan Fitzpatrick were tragically killed in a road accident.
Privates Deere and Murphy were both 21 and from Athy, Private Lawlor was 23 was from Nurney, while Private Fitzpatrick was 19 and from Portlaoise.

The soldiers were part of a convoy travelling from the Irish base at Tibnin to Beirut from where they were due to fly to Cyprus and Thailand for a holiday. The accident happened near Damur, around 10km south of Beirut.

The memorial was unveiled in front of a large crowd in Athy yesterday (Saturday) 18th November 2023 at the Marian shrine opposite St Michael’s Parish Church Athy County Kildare