An Cosantóir

21 Lt Kevin Gleeson (30), Terenure, Dublin Sgt Hugh Gaynor (29), Lexlip, Co Kildare Cpl Peter Kelly (25), Templeogue, Dublin Cpl Liam Duggan (34), Cabra, Dublin Pte Matthew Farrel (22), Jamestown, Dublin Tpr Thomas Fennel (18), Donnycarney, Dublin Tpr Anthony Browne (20), Rialto, Dublin Pte Michael McGuinn (21), Staplestown Road, Co Carlow Pte Gerard Killeen (27), Rathmines, Dublin Those who died Those who died in the Niemba Ambush: RIP plaque by the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Mary McCamley, in Blanchardstown village, near the Gaynor family home. Amongst those in attendance were Sgt Gaynor's daughter, Mrs Sarah Tallon; Lt Gleeson's niece, Aoife Gleeson; and Niemba Ambush survivor Pte Thomas Kenny. A large number of representatives from ONE and IUNVA also attended the unveiling of the plaque that will help to ensure that a local hero's ultimate sacrifice will not be forgotten. A stone commemorating Lt Gleeson can be found in his hometown of Carlow. Those who died in the Niemba ambush are honoured annually at Cathal Brugha Barracks each November with a commemoration ceremony by the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women (ONE). A mass and parade for one of the victims of the ambush before their removal home to Ireland John Joyce interview John Joyce has no problem remembering the Niemba Ambush – he was on the scene of the tragedy just days after it happened. "It was terrible to be there, to think that this is where our comrades had died", he recalls. But one immediate impact of the ambush which claimed so many Irish lives was: "It made us all the more alert. We were watching all the time." Joe (80) from Crumlin in Dublin served with the 35th and 37th battalions and was serving in the Congo during that fateful time. "We spent about a month in Niemba and we were at the bridge where it happened a few days later. It made it very real for us", he said, adding: "We were thinking of our fallen comrades." Joe remembered how things had been so different when Irish troops first arrived in the Congo as part of the UN peacekeeping force. "At the start the people were all over us. They were really friendly and welcoming, so what happened at Niemba came totally out of the blue", said Joe. He believes that because of this relaxed, friendly atmosphere, the patrol which arrived at the bridge on that fateful day in November 1960 would not have been expecting any trouble. "I think they might have been caught a little off-guard because of the friendly welcome they had received up to then. The furthest of their thoughts would have been that they were going to be ambushed," he said. The ambush had an immediate impact. "It certainly had an effect on us and on the Army generally. We always had our weapons with us after that and the training we got was changed." He mentioned how things have improved vastly for the troops on UN duty nowadays in terms of better training and better equipment, including uniforms. "Much better than the Bulls Wool uniform and heavy boots we wore under the Africa sun." Joe believes that Ireland becoming involved in United Nations overseas services was "the best thing that ever happened to the Irish Army. It gave us great experience and we were very proud to be representing our country on service with the UN." Joe recalls that the funeral of those who died was "the biggest Dublin had ever seen" and talked about the annual commemoration ceremony in Cathal Brugha Barracks. "They will never be forgotten" , he said. NIEMBA AMBUSH 60 YEARS ON

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