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Dublin: 9 °C Friday 24 May, 2013

Fallen Irish peacekeepers commemorated

Simultaneous commemorations being held around the country on 8 July.

File photo.
File photo.
Image: Hussein Malla/AP/Press Association Images

A CEREMONY TO commemorate the Irish men and women who lost their lives while serving with the United Nations on peacekeeping duties is to be held in Dublin next month.

The National Day of Commemoration ceremony is being held at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks at 10.30am on 8 July.

During the ceremony, President Michael D Higgins will lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Ireland. The event is open to the public and the Taoiseach and members of the Defence Forces are expected to attend.

Commemorative events will also be held simultaneously in Sligo, Kilkenny, Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford, with each relevant local authority being notified of the venue and participants closer to the event.

Members of Ireland’s Defence Forces have participated in UN missions since 1958 and the first major deployment of Irish troops to peacekeeping operations was with the United Nations Operation in the Congo in 1960.

To date, 86 Defence Forces members have died while serving on peacekeeping missions; currently, 436 personnel are serving overseas across 16 missions.

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Comments (5 Comments)

  • We can only salute the brave men and women who travel to unknown places, to help keep peace.

    Reply
  • I’d like to see a special effort by the Government & UN to have the Lebanese recover the body of Private Kevin Joyce, missing since 1981 after he was kidnapped by local militia aged 19. This ceremony would be a good place to start

    He’s the only UN soldier missing in action and his family have spent 30 years wondering what was done to him. The UN owes the Irish army, as does the Lebanese govt (who, I think, specifically requested Irish troops be sent back to their country). They should let this lad’s family give him a funeral

    Reply
  • Hi Susan. Could you change the photo to one of an Irish soldier in an Irish uniform deployed on a UN Peace Support Operation? Also maybe one where the UN flag isn’t upside down. Good article though.

    Reply
  • Looks like an Irish soldier to me, on UN duty they wear the blue of the UN but his sleeve looks like Irish DPM, as for the flag, yep, upside down

    Reply
  • Sorry Gavin, just spotted you in uniform in your picture, I’m blaming my phone, so of course you know about soldiers wearing the blue of the UN, sorry. Still think it is an Irish soldier though, look at the way the sleeve is folded up and all

    Reply

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