Children in Lebanon to receive computers from Athlone school

ABOVE: Sgt Terry O'Brien pictured taking possession of the computers from Coláiste Chiaráin. In the background are: Capt Neil Ledwith (117 Infantry Battalion), Brendan Waldron (Coláiste Chiaráin Principal), Ciaran Mannion (Athlone Rotary), Martin O'Brien (caretaker) and Billy Nott (Athlone Rotary).

The Rotary Club of Athlone has facilitated the donation of five computers from Coláiste Chiaráin to the Defence Forces for delivery to the Lebanon, where they will be used by children in schools and an orphanage.

The Athlone secondary school recently upgraded its IT systems and had no further requirement for the five computers which were, however, in perfect condition.

The 117th Battalion of the Defence Forces will shortly travel to Lebanon, and will arrange for the computers to be given to schools and an orphanage in their area which are in need of this equipment.

Since their first deployment to Lebanon in 1978, Defence Forces units have been giving aid and assistance to the local population in addition to implementing their primary function of peacekeeping.

South Lebanon, where the Battalion operates, is an extremely deprived area, having suffered greatly from being a war zone for many years.

In addition, many Syrian refugees from the war in that country have fled there for safety in recent times.

The Rotary Club of Athlone thanked the Principal of Coláiste Chiaráin, Brendan Waldron, for making the computer equipment available.