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Joy and tears as Irish Golan Heights troops are reunited with their families

The soldiers spent six months in the Middle East flashpoint.

By Nicky Ryan Wednesday 8 Apr 2015, 11:16 AM
Apr 8th 2015, 11:16 AM 16,281 Views 12 Comments
https://jrnl.ie/2034910

Updated at 11am

THERE WERE EMOTIONAL scenes in Dublin Airport late last night as Irish troops returned home from a peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights.

One hundred soldiers from the 46th Infantry Group, United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) were united with family after their six months in the Middle East flashpoint.

The Golen Heights has been a scene of heightened tensions in recent months, due to continuing civil war in Syria as well as the spread of Islamic State, with Israel bolstering defences along the border.

Check out the scenes of joy – and tears – in Terminal One last night:

Joy and tears as Irish Golan Heights troops are reunited with their families
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  • Irish troops arrive home

    Commandant Owen McNally from Kildare and his daughter Tara (6) and son Ciaran (9).Source: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

  • Irish troops arrive home

    Frank Black with partner Eimear O'Keeffe (DJ Nikki Hayes) and their daughter Farah Black.Source: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

  • Irish troops arrive home

    Pte. Brian McCabe from Navan and his two-year-old daughter Emily.Source: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

  • Irish troops arrive home

    Commandant David Slattery from Limerick and his Zoey (1) and son Zayne (3).Source: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

  • Irish troops arrive home

    Derek Egan from Athlone with fiancée Lindsey McCrossan.Source: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

  • Irish troops arrive home

    Corporal Patrick Behan from Kildare with his wife Dierdre, sone Sean (8) and daughter Emma (5)Source: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

  • v

    Glenn Ahearne from Finglas is welcomed home by his familySource: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

  • Irish troops arrive home

    CQS John Christy from Navan is welcomed home by his three-year-old daughter Zoe.Source: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

  • Irish troops arrive home

    Derek Egan from Athlone with fiancée Lindsey McCrossan.Source: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

  • Irish troops arrive home

    Pte. Gary O'Connor from Athlone with his fiance Joanne Mullally, right, and her sister Paula Mullally.Source: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

  • Irish troops arrive home

    Pte. Gary O'Connor from Athlone with his mother Marie O'Connor, his fiance Joanne Mullally, 2nd from right, and her sisters Mary Sherlock, left, and Paula MullallSource: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

  • Irish troops arrive home

    Pte. Jamie Devlin from Longford and is 16-month-old daughter Tilly.Source: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

Read: Here’s what St. Patrick’s Day looks like to Irish soldiers in war-torn hotspots >

More: Two rockets fired from Syria hit Israel, says army – so they’re returning fire >

About the author:

About the author
Nicky Ryan
@NickyRyan_
nicky@thejournal.ie

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