A WREATH-LAYING ceremony to remember the 90 Irish men killed while serving on UN peacekeeping missions yesterday paid special tribute to the families and children who were left behind.
The annual wreath-laying ceremony, organised by the Irish UN Veterans’ Association, was held at the UN memorial garden at Arbour Hill in Dublin.
Former chief of staff of the Defence Forces, Lieut Gen Gerry McMahon, remembered the men who had made “the supreme sacrifice” and said it would be remiss of him to not recall those left behind.
“Let us remember the fathers, the mothers, the brothers, the sisters, the wives, the girlfriends, the partners who were left behind and who lost tragically their loved ones,” he said.
“Let us particularly remember the children who had to grow up without the guidance, companionship and love of a father who died far from home.” About 200 bereaved family members, retired officers and serving members of the Defence Forces and Garda Síochána attended the event.
It was also attended by members of organisations such as the US Air Force, the Royal British Legion and the Combined Irish Regiments Liverpool.
Residents from the Arbour Hill and Stoneybatter area also gathered to watch the event, which was bathed in afternoon sunshine.
The first wreath was laid by Dublin Lord Mayor Emer Costello, on behalf of the people of Dublin.
Among the wreaths laid were five poppy wreaths presented by bodies including the Royal British Legion, the Irish Guards Association and the Royal Air Force Association.
The event coincided with the 49th anniversary of the Niemba ambush in the Congo, which resulted in the deaths of nine soldiers in 1960. The men were killed by Baluba tribesmen in what was the single greatest loss of life in any engagement by the Defence Forces since the foundation of the State.
Wreaths were laid for the soldiers who died in Niemba by Sally Tallon, daughter of Sgt Hugh Gaynor, and Lily Kelly, wife of Cpl Peter Kelly, both of whom died in Niemba.
Soldiers removed their blue berets and bowed their heads when prayers were led by Msgr Eoin Thynne, head chaplain of the Defence Forces and Very Rev John Marsden, Dean of Kildare. The 90 names were then read out and a moment’s silence was observed.
The men lost their lives while serving in Lebanon, the Congo, Cyprus, the Middle East, East Timor, Somalia, Sarajevo and Liberia, between 1960 and 2005.
Lieut Gen McMahon singled out the two non-Defence Forces deaths – Garda Paul Reid who died in Sarajevo, and Seán Deveraux of Unicef who died in Somalia.
He said he would always remember Cpl Thomas Reynolds, who died in Lebanon on Christmas Eve in 1978.
“I will remember my neighbour Mick Nestor, killed in Beirut. I will remember the best friend of my oldest son, Sgt Johnny Lynch, killed in south Lebanon.”
The Piper's Lamentwas played by Cpl Paul Mulready of the No 5 battalion, McKee Barracks, followed by the The Last Post.
