Minister lays wreath to remember sacrifice of Irish UN peacekeepers

News from the Celtic League:

Ireland's Minister with Responsibility for Defence Paul Kehoe has visited Irish troops serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Currently, a total of some 380 Irish personnel are serving with UNIFIL.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Ireland’s first deployment to Lebanon as part of the UNIFIL mission.

One Sunday, 18 March 2018 the Minister laid a wreath at a monument in Tibnin to remember the forty seven Irish men who died while serving with UNIFIL.

Minister Kehoe said that:

“In serving so selflessly Irish peacekeepers have helped save the lives of countless numbers of some of the poorest and most vulnerable people around the world. Tragically, in saving those lives, too many of our finest people, like those remembered here today, have lost their own.”

Reflecting on the contributions of the Irish Defence Forces and the sacrifices made, the Minister added:

"the spirit of many Irish soldiers will remain in South Lebanon and the memorial will be a focal point, lest anyone forget the contribution they made."

While in Lebanon the Minister visited a local community project which was funded with the assistance of Irish Aid.

To underline Ireland's commitment to the UN peacekeeping role Minister Kehoe today reviewed troops shortly leaving for service on the Golan heights as part of the UNDOF (Department of Defence link):

http://www.defence.ie/…/R…/3C4C52D1ACDFF1EB80258259005CE08C…

Bernard Moffatt
pp Celtic League

23/03/18