Lieut-Gen Sean MacEoin, former Chief of Staff and Commander of the United Nations forces in the Congo during 1961 and 1962, has died aged 88.
Describing his service in the Congo, a colleague said: "He found himself in command of a force of 20,000 troops, of many nationalities and languages, in an area where even our wildest planners had never imagined that troops would have to be deployed. His name became a household word in Ireland and was held in high esteem in other countries."
He was there during the UN crisis, the Niemba and other ambushes and turbulent events in which Irish soldiers died.
The then Secretary-General of the United Nations, U Thant, said Lieut-Gen MacEoin had "discharged his responsibilities with eminence" in the Congo. He said law and order had been restored throughout most of the Congo, tribal strife had been kept in check and succour had been given to the people in the cities and in the interior. He had welded the UN troops into an efficient force. When he left the Congo he was awarded the Bonn Seirbhise Dearsna (the distinguished service medal) First Class. He was presented with a set of records of national songs by Ethiopians, Swedes, Indians and Ghanaians. He paid tribute to the Irish battalions: "The best tribute that could be paid to them was the repeated request I received from many areas to have Irish troops sent to them."
By the end of the 1960s, it was said he had "one foot in the Mediterranean (with the Cyprus crisis) and the other on the Border", but he coped successfully with his task. He also secured improvements in pay and conditions, improved training, and ensured the Army was equipped with modern weapons.
Lieut-Gen MacEoin was born in Cooley, Co Louth, in 1910 and joined the Defence Force as a cadet in 1930 and was commissioned the following year.
During his career he had long association with the First and Third Infantry Battalions, but it was with the 12th Infantry Battalion that he was to achieve his greatest success, when as Officer Commanding, the battalion won the Infantry Cup as the Premier Unit in 1944.
After the "Emergency" from 1940to 1946, he was transferred to the Military College where he held appointments in the Cadet School and the Infantry School, culminating in his appointment as Commandant in the Military College in 1957. He also served as O/C 1st Infantry Battalion during the 1950s.
In January 1960 he was appointed Chief of Staff, the first graduate of the Military College to be so honoured. A year later he was appointed Force Commander ONUC (United Nations Operations in the Congo).
At a function to mark his retirement in March 1971, the Adjutant-General, Col Joseph Emphy, said the Irish Army, having been a long-neglected institution, had moved on to the international stage in no small way, and this was mostly due to Gen MacEoin's efforts.
He is survived by his sons Tom, John, Peter and daughter Marie, and brother Tom.
The removal will take place from his residence to Good Shepherd Church, Churchtown, Dublin today, arriving at 6 p.m. The funeral Mass will take place tomorrow at 11 a.m. and the burial will be at Bothar na Breinne, Rathfarnham.