Peacekeeping is not like war, naturally enough. We have 530 soldiers of the 82nd Battalion in Lebanon, about 160 of them at headquarters, Camp Shamrock in Tibnin, and the others at posts throughout the Irish area of operations and at the UNIFIL headquarters at Naquora, down on the coast near the official Israeli border.
They are on 24-hour alert, and although there have been casualties, their peacekeeping role is respected by all sides. Indeed, and curiously, notice of attack is given by the Israelis. This comes about because if hostilities break out among the many armed factions - the Israeli army, the Israelibacked de facto forces of the unofficial south Lebanese army, and various Muslim groups and anti-Israeli militias - the group about to be targeted by the Israelis, often in retaliation, will move in close to a UN post.
Consequently, anything in that area is liable to be hit by incoming fire. As no one wants the bad publicity of UN casualties, the peacekeepers are warned in advance.
This week, the Minister for Defence, Michael Smith, laid a wreath at the site at Qana where, only a couple of miles from Camp Shamrock, 105 Lebanese civilians were killed last year by Israeli artillery bombardment next door to a Fijian post. It is claimed locally that Qana is the original Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle of changing water into wine at a wedding feast.
Camp Shamrock is on the side of a hill some 800 metres above sea level. It can be cold and wet in winter and hot and sunny in the summer. If anyone envisages a holiday camp setting they are quickly disabused of this on arrival. It is an operational base in a volatile and dangerous area. Comfort is at a minimum, and much of the accommodation consists of basic prefabs with paraffin heaters, as Quidnunc discovered this week. Shelters are everywhere and must be used if there is a shell alert. There is constant readiness for attack and only in the mess can soldiers relax.
Yet, despite some gripes about overwork and low pay, the troops, all volunteers for UN service, seem happy. Morale is very high, there is a wonderful camaraderie and there is a feeling of work being done which is not just personally worthwhile, but is of benefit to the local community, devastated by 25 years of conflict. The fact that the President, Mrs McAleese, chose south Lebanon for her first official overseas visit last December is still much appreciated.