‘There were hugs, kisses and tears' – Emotional scenes as Irish Lebanon peacekeepers arrive home in Dublin Airport
THERE were emotional scenes this week at Dublin Airport arrivals as peacekeepers in Lebanon arrived home.
170 Defence Forces troops serving in the Middle East were greeted by loved ones yesterday as they arrived back to the Emerald Isle after months abroad.
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Emotional scenes as Irish Lebanon peacekeepers arrive home in Dublin Airport
Credit: Instagram/dublinairport
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A dad gave his son a warm welcome home
Credit: Instagram/dublinairport
Sharing a heartwarming video of families reuniting at the arrivals gate,
"Warning: you may need tissues!"
The Defence Forces confirmed soldiers at Camp Shamrock in
The Irish are among peacekeeping troops with United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon stationed along that line for decades.
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But recently, conflict has seen them having to be confined to bunkers for periods of time.
Troops at Camp Shamrock faced difficult conditions due to reduced access to
Lieutenant Colonel Shane Rockett, commander of the 125 Infantry Battalion at Camp Shamrock, said the situation is the worst he had seen, with 14 towns and villages in their area of operations affected and damage between 50 per cent and 90 per cent.
Lt Col Rockett also described anger directed towards Unifil from some who wanted them to have done more to prevent the violence.
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He said: 'It's very hard. If you can imagine if somebody came in and bombed your home town or village, and there was a
Irish troops have 'upped the ante of training' in preparing for Lebanon duty
'We have worked hard in the five months that we have been here to liaise with the local communities and tell them that, 'look, the Irish and Unifil did not leave'.
'If we had left, the destruction would have been a lot worse and probably the casualties a lot worse."
Now, 170 soldiers touched down in the capital for a long-awaited reunion with family.
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One proud dad was seen sporting a t-shirt which read: "I'm proud of my peacekeeper."
'WELCOME HOME HEROES'
Another scene showed one soldier's daughter wrapped around his neck in a hug as he attempted to leave the airport.
One person said: "Oh Welcome home lads - enjoy your time and thank you for keeping the peace and for your service."
Another added: "Welcome home heroes. I need a tissue."
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A third said: "Welcome Home, may you always be safe on you peacekeeping missions."
While a fourth said: "First proper breath I took in months. Could not be prouder of our troops."
It comes as 10,387 people applied to join the Army, Navy and Air Corp by the end of September last year - which is more than the total applications for all of 2023.
An impressive 744 new recruits were inducted into the services by the end of last year after major changes in salaries and allowances.
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The Department of Defence confirmed 494 already passed out by September 30 last and a further 250 completed their training by the end of the year.
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One little girl couldn't get enough hugs
Credit: Instagram/dublinairport
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Families were reunited as troops arrived home
Credit: Instagram/dublinairport
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