An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 5 Manager Comdt Colin Lawlor info@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5306 Editor Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald magazine@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5307 Connect Sgt Karl Byrne connect@military.ie Photo/Journalist Cpl Lee Coyle journalist@military.ie Photographer Armn Jamie Barrrett photo@military.ie Subscriptions Cpl Kelly Gallagher +353 (0)45 44 5312 subs@military.ie DF/PR Information Cpl Lynn Ryan admin@military.ie +353 (0)45 44 5308 DF Webmaster Sgt Mick Burke +353 (0)45 44 5309 webmaster@military.ie Magazine Archivist Mr Sean Shinnors Designer/Advertising JM Publishing & Media, Arklow, Co. Wicklow,Ireland Tel: +353 15331911 Tel: +353871344135 Web: www.jmpublishing.ie Email: info@jmpublishing.ie Printer Turner's Printing Co., Ltd Earl Street, Longford, Ireland Tel: +353 (0)43 3350500 The fact that an article appears in this magazine does not indicate official approval of the views expressed by the author. © Published by OiC Public Relations Branch for the Defence Forces at DFHQ, Block 5, Ceannt Bks, DFTC, Curragh Camp, Co Kildare, Ireland. Tel: +353 (0)45 445312 Front Cover Members of the Irish Force Reserve Company (FRC) on patrol in UNDOF. For more Defence Forces photographs, checkout: www.flickr.com/photos/ dfmagazine Editorial H ello and welcome to our 64-page June special, which commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Defence Forces' first involvement with United Nations peacekeeping, 26th June 1958. It includes a commemoration of UNIFIL, which marked its 40th year of operations on 19th March 2018. This issue also coincides with International Peacekeeping Day, 29th May 2018. "Not one year, not one month has passed in 60 years without Irish troops wearing the blue helmet abroad - it is part of who we are at the UN." - Ambassador Brian Flynn, Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations, at the Security Council open debate on peacekeeping – March 2018. Since 26th June 1958, Defence Forces personnel have completed 64,000 individual tours of duty on peacekeeping operations all over the world. Today, the Defence Forces has 649 personnel serving in a variety of missions throughout the world. Overseas service has always provided Irish soldiers with the opportunity to practice their profession in an operational environment, to travel, to see new places and meet new people, to sample foreign cultures, and, most importantly, to make a difference where and when they could. With this special issue we have tried to capture a reflection of our current overseas footprint by providing an insight into the forming of the League of Nations after WWI, the establishment of the United Nations, and our 60 years of service. We start with interviews with first-timers and experienced soldiers heading to Lebanon with 112 Inf Bn. We then have interviews with senior leaders and an update on each current mission where Irish personnel are serving. We also have historical articles looking at our exemplary service in the Congo and Lebanon, written by former DF personnel and now authors: Declan Power writes about the now infamous Siege at Jadotville and Lt Col Dan Harvey retd writes about the Battle of At Tiri in South Lebanon in 1980. We also have interviews with three distinguished overseas veterans from ONE, IUNVA and ARCO. During our six decades of overseas service we have lost 87 of our comrades in the service of peace. These heroes made the ultimate sacrifice while trying to protect the vulnerable and bring peace to troubled regions of the world, regardless of the dangers and risk of personal harm. We also think of their families and their sacrifices, Cuimhnímis! – Let us remember! (ONE's Fuchsia fundraising emblem is a symbol of remembrance for those who have passed and to those currently serving in the Defence Forces.) We dedicate this magazine to the memory of all those who have died on active service with the Defence Forces, at home and abroad. As editor of An Cosantóir I would like to thank all our contributors, advertisers, and staff for helping to produce this special issue. We hope it will help mark this important anniversary, and provide future generations with a unique insight into Defence Forces peacekeeping in 2018. Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald GDPR Notice to oNliNe SubScRibeRS Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679 on data protection and privacy, which addresses the export of per- sonal data outside the EU. An Cosantóir will be in touch shortly by individual email, with new details to ensure the protection of your data under GDPR. We appreciate your patience at this time. See www.dfmagazine.ie

• Cover