Kilkenny soldiers lined up for duty for inspection by the Mayor of Kilkenny Malcolm Noonan at the weekend prior to their journey to Chad this week.
No stranger to the barracks, Mayor Noonan spent the first three years of his life in the married quarters of Stephens Barracks while his dad Derry served in the Army.
Last Thursday Mayor Noonan made a more official visit to the barracks at the invitation of Lt Col Liam Carroll in honour of the 37 years that Derry Noonan had spent serving his country in the armed forces.
For four hours Mayor Noonan accompanied by his father, received an honour guard, a tour of the museum, and a briefing on operations in the unit in the present day.
Thirty soldiers departed for Chad this week to serve with the UN peacekeeping forces in the African war-torn country.
