A ceremony was ​held‍ in‍ Letterkenny, ireland, on september 7th, 2025, to commemorate Irish⁣ veterans⁢ who served with⁢ the United ⁣nations. The‍ event, hosted by the Irish United Nations Veterans Association, Post 19, ‌honored the memory of the 97 members of the ‍Defense Forces, An Garda Síochána (the Irish police force), and Civilian Personnel who have died while participating in UN peacekeeping missions.

Honoring Fallen Peacekeepers

Wreaths were laid in remembrance of those who lost their‌ lives ‍while serving in various‍ UN peacekeeping operations around ⁤the world. Irish peacekeepers have been⁤ deployed to the Congo, Cyprus, Lebanon, the Middle East, Somalia, Sarajevo, East Timor, liberia, ⁣haiti, ​and within​ Europe, ⁤contributing to global peace and ⁣security efforts.

An Garda Síochána Donegal specifically​ paid tribute⁤ to Garda Sergeant Paul Reid, ⁢who was killed in Sarajevo on may 18th, 1995, while serving with the ⁢UN mission in ⁣Bosnia and Herzegovina.Inspectors Paul Gallagher ​and Tony byrne represented An‍ Garda Síochána ⁢at the ceremony.

Irish Contributions to UN Peacekeeping

Ireland has a long history ⁤of commitment to UN peacekeeping.Since​ first deploying peacekeepers ‌in 1960, Irish personnel ​have consistently served⁢ in challenging and often risky environments. The ‍dedication⁣ of these individuals underscores Ireland’s commitment to‌ international cooperation and conflict resolution.