The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres: ‘The Secretary-General was deeply saddened to learn of the death of a United Nations Department of Safety and Security (DSS) staff member and injury to another DSS staffer when their UN vehicle was struck as they travelled to the European Hospital…

  Two South African peacekeepers who were serving with the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) were injured, one seriously, in an attack on a UN helicopter on Friday 2 Feb 2024.  The helicopter was carrying out a medical evacuation when it came under fire from presumed members…

IUNVA welcomed members of the Chaplaincy Service to Arbour Hill on Tuesday 23 Jan 2024. IUNVA members attended mass in the Church of the Sacred Heart, Arbour Hill, in memory of chaplains who have passed away, the mass was celebrated by Fr. Des Campion SDB CF Naval Service. Fr. Paschal Hanrahan HCF laid a wreath…

On 16 Jan 2024, the UN Secretary General António Guterres condemned the killing on 15 Jan 2024 of Pte Emmanuel Steve Atebele (Cameroon) and the wounding of five of his comrades while they were on patrol in Mbindale, 45 Kms northest of the town of Paoua in the Central African Republic with the United Nations…

On 24 Nov, 1983, Don Tidey who was the managing director of the Quinnsworth supermarket group was kidnapped by PIRA close to his home in South Co Dublin. A nationwide search was undertaken by An Garda Síochána supported by Óglaigh na hÉireann operating in aid to the civil power. In mid Dec 1983 the search…

By PRO IUNVA An Tánaiste, Minister for Defence and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, TD reviewed personnel of 123 Inf Bn at Kilkenny Castle on Tuesday, 31Oct 2023, the unit will shortly deploy to Lebanon for service with UNIFIL. In his address, An Tánaiste had special words for the families of the personnel:  “On…

We congratulate Maj Gen Maureen O’Brien who was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, with Honour at her stand down parade on Friday 13 Oct 2023 at McKee Bks at the end of forty two years service in the Defence Forces.  Gen O’Brien was born in Galway City in 1960 and after she finished her B…

Forty five years ago, the first Irish unit to deploy to South Lebanon received a visit from the Minister for Defence Bobby Molloy who was accompanied by Lt Gen Carl O’Sullivan COS, HE Eamon Ó Tuathail Irish Ambassador to Lebanon, Comdt Jimmy Flynn ADC to COS and M Healy Sec DOD. This was the first…

By PRO IUNVA Thirty five years ago, on 29 Sep 1988, the Norwegian Nobel Committee decided that the 1988 Nobel Peace Prize would be awarded to the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces.  The Nobel Committee announced  “The peacekeeping forces of the United Nations have, under extremely difficult conditions, contributed to reducing tensions where an armistice has…

On 7 Sep 2023, personnel from 21 Ircon with the EU Training Mission to Mali (EUTM) received their EUTM MALI service medal from Lt Gen Michiel van der Laan of the Royal Dutch Army who is the Director General European Union Military Staff and Director Military Planning and Conduct Capability.  21Ircon is the final unit…