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HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE gathered at Dublin Airport this morning to welcome home Irish soldiers who have been away on peacekeeping duty for six months.
Tears were shed by family and friends as 190 troops touched down on Irish soil.
The troops from the 51st Infantry Group – United Nations Interim Force have just completed a six month deployment to Lebanon.
There were plenty of hugs to go around this morning as families greeted their loved ones:
For Private Thomas Grant, the return home was extra special as he was meeting his 10-week-old daughter Sophia Grace for the first time:
Laura Hogan / Twitter10 week old Sophia Grace dressed up in camouflage waiting to meet her Daddy for the 1st time #tv3news @defenceforces pic.twitter.com/C2H8wFK9dO
— Laura Hogan (@LauraHoganTV) May 18, 2016
The troops have now been replaced by the 53rd Infantry Group.
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Welcome home lads!
Well done to the ladies too.
A father meeting his child for the first time. Beautiful – would bring a tear to a glass eye!!
Back up a second!! All these military personnel look like CK models to me, jeez who knew. Best “looking” Army in the world.
Congrats to that family. However here’s a sobering thought. If that couple were unmarried, and they may well be, then despite the father serving his country abroad, he would have had absolutely no rights to his child and if anything had happened him while on duty. it would have meant serious legal problems for his family as a result of that.
He would have had no rights as for an unmarried father to get guardianship you have to have a form witnessed by a peace commissioner or commissioner of oaths (usually a total tranger) BUT you have to be there in person, as does your wife.
So if anything happened to his wife when he was away. he wouldn’t have had any rights to his own chid. If anything had happened to the child, he would have had no rights and no say.
Ireland 2016.
s
Welcome Home Lads and Ladies glad you are all safe x
Welcome home men!
For alot of them its their chance to earn enough money to help get them on the property ladder. Also they sign a contract when they join and need to serve overseas so many times as a result.
Respect to these lads and lassies.
Nice holiday for them
You are either an idiot or a troll
He is probably both – an idiot and a troll .
Welcome home lads and glad you are safe
welcome home from protecting dick cheneys stolen oil fields whoop
@ TDV The only dick on this page is you . They are Irish Soldiers risking their lives . What have you ever done ?
hes both not an unique quality
These soldiers see,hear and experience things that we can only imagine….and they wont talk about it.yes..i know its peacekeeping.
These men and women are putting their lives on the line but I wonder do they fully understand why they are there?
As far as i know 47 Irish men have died on this mission since the beginning and for what?To protect Lebanon from Israel? Is it just for a wage or maybe an adventure?
Either way when you see them coming back to their families i cant help but wonder if their lives being risked needlessly.
Yeah to be honest I don’t get it. I wouldn’t like my partner to miss out on the birth or early days of their child’s life and possibly risking their life. Maybe it’s a case of someone having to do it but I wouldn’t like it for my family.
Nice to see what happiness looks like!
Poor kid.
That special moment when she meets her dad for the first time in ages ruined by a battery of intrusive cameras.
Young people should be conscripted from the social welfare benefits gang to join the army.
The exchequer would benefit as the UN pay most of the costs and the young men would avoid the life of crime. Society would benefit greatly as the young men might learn to behave properly.
Nah I’d rather people competent in the role!
It’s not Taking the Black!
Welcome back big brother xxxxx
Welcome home big brother!!! Xxxxxxxxxx
Source: Sam Boal via RollingNews,ie" title="">
Source: Sam Boal via RollingNews.ie" title="">
Source: Sam Boal via RollingNews.ie" title="">
Source: Sam Boal via RollingNews.ie" title="">
Source: Sam Boal via RollingNews.ie" title="">
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