Hey "boo". This is usually a fun topic and you'll get every answer under the sun from the haligan to the brain. This has been brought up a few times, but someone new to the site may not be familiar with how it works, so I'll give you a little advice. It might be best to use the "search" function at the top-right corner and see if your question or topic has already been brought up. The reason I say this is because there are many who will not answer your post for the reason that it has been done already and you will get people like me in here the will give you a link to go on to see such search results...
Welcome to FFN. I hope you enjoy it and pick up some useful knowledge while you are here. There is a great opportunity for learning something new every day.
KSHF
OH, and P.S..... I like the haligan too, but combine it with an axe.
On my department we typicaly carry a pick head axe. During usual firefighting its a great tool. roof top ops and overhaul. But after taking RIT Under Fire in Illinois, i found it to be the most useless thing on earth. When your trapped, or doing RIT ops, flat head axe and Haligan are your friend.
Just my opinion.
I too had my eyes opened after taking a May-Day FF down class. Any tool is better than nothing, but I am for the most effective and most versitile, and I believe a set of irons is taking that role. I carry a little of eveything; pliers, wire cutters, screwdrivers...you just never know.