IRISH troops who had served as peace keepers with the United Nations were today's missionaries, bringing peace and hope to the world Army chaplain, Father Dermot Muldowney said at the annuals for UN veterans yesterday.
Before the names of the members of the Defence Force who had died serving with the UN were read out, Father Muldowney recalled the first to die, Company Sergeant Felix Grant who died on October 3rd, 1960 in the Congo and the most recent, Airman Stephens O'Connor, on October 3rd.
1993, in Lebanon. Father Muldowney had administered the last rites to Airman O'Connor.
Irish soldiers, and one garda, have died in the Congo, including the nine who died in the Niemba ambush, Cyprus, Lebanon, Svria and Sarajevo.
Members of the Irish United Nations Veterans Association paraded to the Church of the Sacred Heart, Arbour Hill, Dublin led by a combined piped band from the Fifth Infantry Battalion and the Air Corp and a Colour Party.
The chiefs celebrant at the Mass was the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Desmond Connell.
Among those present was the Minister for Defence, Mr Barrett, the chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieut Gen Gerald McMahon, the Garda Commissioner, Mr Patrick Culligan, the British ambassador Mrs Veronica Sutherland, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Sean Dublin Bay Rockall Loftus, the association president, retired Lieut Gen Vincent Sevino and Mr Joe Costello TD.
Veterans from all major peace keeping operations attended, including, Mr Joe Fitzpatrick, a survivor of the Niemba Ambush in the Congo in 1960.
The National Chairman Mr Cyril McSweeney, who volunteered for 11 tours of duty and served in the Congo, Cyprus and Syria, said there were about 12,000 members. The association was seeking members outside the Defence Forces he said from the Garda who had served with the UN and civilians. The only criteria was that they had served one trip.