Ceremony in Letterkenny Commemorates Irish Peacekeepers Who Lost Their Lives in UN Missions
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A ceremony was held in Letterkenny, County Donegal, on September 7th, 2025, too honor the 97 members of the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, and Civilian Personnel who have died while serving on United Nations peacekeeping missions. The event paid particular tribute to Garda Sergeant Paul Reid, who was killed in Sarajevo in 1995.
Irish Involvement in UN Peacekeeping
Ireland has a long and proud history of participation in UN peacekeeping operations around the world. Irish peacekeepers have been deployed to numerous conflict zones, including:
Congo
Cyprus
Lebanon
Middle East
Somalia
Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
East Timor
Liberia
Haiti
Various locations within Europe
These missions represent a meaningful commitment to international peace and security, and have come at a considerable cost to Irish personnel and their families.
Remembering Garda Sergeant Paul Reid
An Garda Síochána Donegal specifically remembered Garda Sergeant Paul Reid, who tragically lost his life while serving with the UN in Sarajevo on May 18th, 1995. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-times-archive/garda-sergeant-killed-in-sarajevo-1.516779
Inspectors Paul Gallagher and Tony Byrne represented An Garda Síochána at the commemorative ceremony in Letterkenny. Sergeant Reid was part of the UN Protection Force (UNPROFOR) when he was fatally injured. https://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0518/705241-paul-reid/
Continued Commitment to Peacekeeping
The ceremony in Letterkenny serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by Irish personnel in the pursuit of peace. Ireland continues to be a strong supporter of UN peacekeeping efforts, and remains committed to deploying personnel to missions around the globe. the department of Defence provides information on current and past deployments. https://www.defenceforces.ie/en/peacekeeping/
Key Takeaways:
97 Irish personnel have died serving on UN peacekeeping missions.
Ireland has a long history of involvement in UN peacekeeping, spanning multiple continents.
Garda Sergeant Paul Reid, killed in Sarajevo in 1995, was specifically honoured at the letterkenny ceremony.
Ireland remains dedicated to supporting international peacekeeping efforts.
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