Oh happy days! Ireland's north is finally going to be rid of the Royal Irish Regiment under plans by the British government for demilitarisation.
The Army's General Officer Commanding in Northern Ireland, Lieutenant General Sir Redmond Watt confirmed:
"The programme being published today will see Operation Banner end by August 1, 2007, assuming an enabling environment is maintained.
"With the eventual end of Operation Banner, there will be no military requirement for the Home Service battalions and, at that point, they will disband."
The Ministry of Defence said that the eventual peacetime garrison for Ireland's north would be no more than 5,000 armed forces personnel, who will be available for worldwide operations.
With respect, that is 5,000 too much! However, today is a great day and it brings us closer to the day we reduce the number of British troops in the island of Ireland to a big fat zero!
Fair play to the British government for initiating these steps and it only confirms what I had originally thought, that Mr Blair is one of the finest politicians to ever grace Number 10 Downing Street.
The RIR made life miserable for people in the North. I can't imagine what they had to put up with. I do however share their joy in the demise of this regiment.
Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye!
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