A missing Irish soldier is to be honoured with a new medical centre built in his name in Lebanon.
Pte Caomhán Seoige (Kevin Joyce), from the Aran Islands in Galway, was captured while serving with the United Nations on April 27th, 1981. He has never been found and is presumed dead.
Now an Irish charity involved in reconstruction work in South Lebanon is to remember him by naming the new centre after him.
The Irish Lebanon Project is bringing volunteer workers to the region this summer to help build new schools and medical centres and to assist in education projects. The area was heavily bombed following last year's war between Israel and Hizbullah.
Project leader Micheál Mac Diarmada, an Army veteran, is this week in Lebanon making final preparations for the arrival of the Irish workers. He said the charity had signed up a number of volunteers but they still need more to complete the projects.
"We want block-layers, plumbers, plasterers, carpenters, electricians and labourers. If you can lift a shovel, you are qualified.
"We are also looking for teachers to come for a week and teach English. We are especially looking for people to donate English books for school children, or old computers."
He is hoping that former soldiers who have trades, as well as members of the Reserve (former FCA), will sign up.
The first group of 20 will arrive in July, with a different group arriving every week for seven weeks. Volunteers will stay in Lebanon for a week, spending five days working and two days seeing the country. They are being asked to raise €4,000 to pay for their flights, accommodation and other costs.
More details can be found at www.irishlebproject.com