DUBLIN AIRPORT – Scenes of celebration and emotion filled Dublin Airport this morning as nearly 200 Irish peacekeepers were welcomed home by their families and friends.
The members of the 126th Infantry Battalion returned following a challenging six-month deployment with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
The reunion was deeply moving for many. Chrissie Renehan was at the arrivals hall to greet her grandson, Paddy O’Donnell, just as he prepares to celebrate his 21st birthday. “I love him to the moon. It was very difficult, but he was great to ring… and keep in touch. We are very proud of him,” she shared.
Company Quartermaster Sergeant Denise Doyle noted that this particular deployment felt emotional, especially because her daughter, Erin, is “a bit older now. She’s 13. It was a tough one because she started secondary school so I’m delighted to be home now.”
Challenging Mission as UNIFIL Winds Down
The deployment was marked by intense periods, with members of the 126th Infantry Battalion having been shot at on numerous occasions. UNIFIL also reported that at one stage, the Israeli Defence Forces dropped grenades near the Irish contingent.
Cmdt Áine Gilmore acknowledged the difficulty: “The last couple of months have been challenging, but rewarding. The measure of the success of the mission is everyone coming home safe, and we achieved that.”
The homecoming is bittersweet as the UNIFIL mission is due to wind down at the end of 2026 after decades of peacekeeping in the region.
Lt Col Ed McDonagh, Officer Commanding the 126th Infantry Battalion, spoke of the deep legacy forged over 40 years. “There’s a huge connection there between the Irish Defence Forces, the people of Lebanon and UNIFIL,” he said. “It’s with sadness that we will depart the mission area.” He added his hope that the Lebanese people receive the “safety and security they so justly deserve.”
Peacekeeper Rachel Madden, from Clonakilty, Co Cork, echoed the sentiment of loss, calling the departure the “end of an era.”
“It’s sad to see us leaving them,” she said, referring to the local Lebanese civilians. “You don’t know what will happen to the area when we’re gone.”
