The current joke in Army circles is that the Belfastborn President, Mrs McAleese will feel quite at home when she embarks on her first official trip to South Lebanon on Thursday. Only two weeks ago there was a heavy exchange of artillery on the edge of the Irish battalion area and there is a slight worry that the Israeli-backed militia may cause a stir next week.
The President will stay overnight in Beirut on Thursday and again on Saturday, when she will host a reception for the Irish community. On Friday she will be brought by helicopter to visit the troops and will stay overnight in Camp Shamrock - not a tent but a concrete military building. Lt Col Colm Doyle, who was aide-decamp to Lord Carrington in Bosnia, will vacate his quarters to accommodate the President.
