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WHILE MOST PEOPLE got to spend Christmas with their loved-ones, 430 of Ireland’s military personnel spent yesterday’s holiday far away from their families.
The biggest contingent were the 199 Defence Forces personnel serving with the United Nations force in Lebanon, while 138 were stationed with the agency’s corps in the Golan Heights.
Tension was still high in both regions, but officials were hoping for a long enough pause in activity for troops to enjoy a Christmas meal.
Some of those serving in Lebanon visited an orphanage in the village of Tibnin, near the country’s southern border with Syria.
Soldiers also laid roses at a local memorial in tribute to the 47 Irish troops who had been killed as part of the force stationed in southern Lebanon over the past 23 years.
Irish soldiers were withdrawn from the region in 2001, but they were called back in 2011 as conflict between Lebanon and Israel flared up again.
Meanwhile behind the scenes, other personnel were working to keep the defence machinery operational for those in the field.
In his message to the troops for Christmas, Defence Minister Simon Coveney said people should be proud of the work Irish troops were doing in the Middle East.
“Wherever I went in the Middle East people talked about Irish troops, Irish soldiers with a sense of admiration – the work you’re doing is hugely valuable and you’re leaders in the field for other peacekeepers who are working with you,” he said.
Did you have family or friends serving overseas on Christmas this year, or in past seasons? Let us know in the comments below.
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What these troops do all over the world would make you proud to be irish. Happy Christmas to them all both here and overseas.
I think people fail to realise that although the Irish army may not be battle hardened like the UK or American troops they are extremely well trained and well respected by other forces throughout the world.
Our son is serving in the Lebanon at the moment.
Give us a break from negative, offensive and anonymous bile, at least for the week of Christmas. i am proud of our Defence Forces.
Drinking tea and scratching their arses
Amos assume your reading is not up to scratch, as you seem to have missed the bit about the numbers who have been killed and no mention of those injured some mo doubt permanently disabled. I wonder would you have the guts to go out there and trog up and down between 2 forces vastly superior in number telling them to behave. No I don’t wander I know.
Hope you enjoyed your Christmas lads and lasses have a Good 2015 and come home safely from one who also served although not in the Irish Army did alongside in Cyprus.
Amos. You clearly have no regard to the fact that 83 Irish soldiers have died serving the UN since 1960 in the Congo, Cyprus and South Lebanon. You also clearly have no regard that some of these were dragged off by insurgents, tortured, murdered and their bodies left in ditches. Have some respect for their families who probably have read your disparaging remarks. Also enlighten your pea brain into the work carried out by Medevac 112, the Air Corps and all the other life saving services carried out by our Defence Forces! You may have thought that your comment was funny…..it isn’t.
Amos Brearly, you wouldn’t last in the Irish army you idiot
Useless shower
How would you know?
Amos, as a retired officer of the DF, I would like to challenge you across any discipline, be it physical or academic, using the excellent training I received in the DF and I will illustrate to you how ignorant and ‘useless’ you are with this pathetic trolling…
And who’s going to protect the cash in transit vans and keep the pheasant population down in the wicklow mountains? Bring them home!
Most time they only go for the extra money and nothing more.
Why was my comment deleted?
My son wants to join the army but i said ‘nay lad, get proper job instead of hanging round t’barracks all day’.
Amos let me get this straight your son wants to join a organisation that offers job security , a public service pension , three meals a day , a fitness lifestyle and sports regularly and gets paid for it . He sounds like he s switch on unlike his old man that wouldn’t know a good thing if he saw it . Sounds like he got the brains of the family maybe you should go ask him for advice .
I wonder which tea they prefer, barrys or lyons, this is of the utmost importance and we need to know.
very of my husband spending Christmas away from his two kids and family. I’m assuming those negative comments about the Defence Forces come from those who are swilling beer throughout the Christmas glued to the Telly…. at least those abroad are spending time drinking TEA and not beer at this time of the year and are giving of their time to the needy and less well off….
Yes tommy but i would fear that he may go deaf from all the paintballing.
have your say