Peacekeepers: The Irish in South Lebanon RTÉ One, 9.35pm, Tuesday July 12th
Last year marked the 60th anniversary of Ireland’s membership of the UN, and Irish peacekeepers have been serving in the Middle-East continuously since 1958.
During that time, 47 Irish soldiers have paid the ultimate price in the cause of peace while on active service in south Lebanon, an area often beset by conflict and war.
In Peacekeepers: The Irish in South Lebanon the cameras follow men and women across a broad range of ranks and responsibilities within the Defence Forces, some of whom are seasoned veterans of Lebanon while others are serving overseas for the first time. We join them as they undergo intensive pre-deployment mission training and combat readiness exercises, make their preparations for leaving Ireland for their six month mission, and bid farewell to their families, friends and loved ones.
We then travel to Lebanon and embed a camera crew, giving viewers a rare insight into what life serving overseas is like for the Irish soldiers.
Throughout the documentary we look back at the history of Ireland’s involvement in the region, using archive footage and in-depth interviews with veterans of the Irish Defence Forces, journalists and commentators, to give viewers a sense of the changing experience of Irish peacekeepers since they first deployed in Lebanon in 1978 right up to the present day.
Finally, we join the soldiers again as they return home to their families at the end of their six month mission in south Lebanon, and document the emotional homecoming as they return to their families.
Peacekeepers: The Irish in South Lebanon was made for RTÉ by Moondance Productions, the company behind last year’s Recruits.