Irish soldiers working as peacekeepers with the UN have brought “pride, praise and prominence” to Ireland, Minister for Defence Alan Shatter said at a ceremony to remember those killed on duty.
Over a dozen wreaths were laid at the Irish-UN memorial garden, on Mount Temple Road in Dublin, in front of 200 military personnel, UN veterans, gardaí, politicians and family members of those killed in service abroad.
Some 91 Irish UN Peacekeepers have lost their lives since 1960 serving as peacekeepers in the Congo, Cyprus, Lebanon, Somalia, Bosnia, East Timor, Liberia, Syria and Haiti.
“These many operations have brought pride, praise and prominence to the defence forces and to Ireland… this is a unique record and one in which the Defence Forces and the Irish people are justifiably very proud,” said Mr Shatter.
Mr Shatter added he had seen first-hand the role Irish peacekeepers play when he visited the Lebanon with President Mary McAleese earlier this year.
“[We saw] the high esteem in which the Defence Forces are held by the local Lebanese who are used to us coming out there and helping to maintain peace in what is a difficult and volatile region.”
He also praised the role played by An Garda Síochána in peacekeeping missions, which he said “has developed significantly over the past couple of decades” since they were first sent to assist in Libya in 1989.
The chairman of the Irish-UN Veterans Association, Michael Butler, called November 8th a “very significant date” for Ireland as it is the anniversary of the Niemba ambush, in which nine Irish soldiers died in 1960 while serving in the Congo.
Among those who laid wreaths were Lord Mayor of Dublin Andrew Montague, relatives of the dead soldiers and veterans of peacekeeping tours, including Tom Kenny, one of only two Irish peacekeepers to survive the Niemba ambush 51 years ago.
While the names of all of 91 Irish peacekeepers who lost their lives on tour were read out in a roll of honour, special mention was made the 10 men who died in 1961 while serving in the Congo.