Emotional scenes as troops return home from Syria

The last Irish troops to be deployed in the Golan Heights area of Syria returned home to Dublin Airport on Friday. They were greeted by their friends and families in what were very emotional and joyful scenes.

The majority of returning troops from the 68th Infantry Group, United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) are from the 6th Infantry Battalion based in Custume Barracks, Athlone. They were under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Clear.

Ireland is withdrawing its troops from the area, where they monitored the border between Syria and Israel, after a ten year peacekeeping presence there. The UNDOF mission was established in 1974 with the aim of maintaining the ceasefire between Israel and Syria.

A total of 133 personnel of all ranks returned on Friday after a six-month deployment. The arrivals area of Dublin Airport was teeming with people, as families waited for their loved ones to return.

Among those waiting was the Conlon family from Roscommon. Senan (8), Saoirse (6) and Oisín (2) held up posters that said 'I LOVE YOU DADDY' as the children waited to be reunited with their father, Comdt Paul Conlon. Comdt Conlon’s wife Brenda said that the whole family were “overwhelmingly proud” of the work that Paul has done in Syria.

“It’s been a long six months, and we’re just glad everyone has come home safe”, Brenda continued. Saoirse, when asked what she would do when her father walked through the doors, said she would “give Daddy a big hug!”

This deployment was Comdt Conlon’s fifth overseas deployment, and Brenda said that he’ll most be looking forward to “giving the kids a big hug and having a good cup of tea!”.

There were emotional and joyful scenes when Comdt Conlon arrived, with his three children rushing up to give him that long-awaited big hug.

Also waiting in the arrivals of Terminal 1 in Dublin Airport was the extended Monaghan and Delaney families, from Clara in Co Offaly, but based in Athlone. Pte Jamie Monaghan and his cousin Pte Ben Delaney were both returning from their first deployments abroad.

Jamie’s mother Margaret Monaghan said of her son’s homecoming: “the whole family is extremely proud.” As parents, uncles, aunts, kids, and cousins all gathered to take a huge family photograph, the two young soldiers beamed with pride.

On serving with his cousin, Pte Ben Delaney said it was “very good… it’s great! Jamie’s brother is in the army as well. We’re very proud, but of course it’s also great to come home.”

Also returning home was a familiar face to many from Athlone, Fr Declan Shannon, the chaplain of the Defence Forces in Athlone since 2021. Fr Declan had previously been based in St Mary’s parish for 16 years, serving as the curate for the Coosan area, and became parish administrator in 2015.

This was Fr Declan’s second deployment to Syria, and he said it was “nostalgic” coming home now, knowing that Irish troops were no longer being deployed in the Golan Heights area.

“It was a super trip, and really good for all the guys. It was our last one to Syria, so quite nostalgic. It was very emotional seeing the lowering of the Irish flag. We don’t know if its going to be raised there again.”

“It was also great that the Athlone barracks was the lead barracks on this mission.”

Fr Declan was welcomed home by his mother Kathleen Shannon, who was holding two flags: an Irish flag and a United Nations one.

In the arrivals area of Terminal 1, members of the Defence Forces were handing out these flags to the waiting families. The Irish troops have always been very proud of their peacekeeping relationship with the United Nations, and there were also many signs being held up that said, “We’re proud of our peacekeepers”.

As well as overwhelming feelings of pride, there was also a lot of relief amongst the families who were welcoming their loved ones home. This division had been deployed in October, the same month as the violence broke out again in Israel.

Amanda Work, the mother of returning soldier Cpl Conor Byrne, said that “It’s been a long six months, and we’re very proud. It’s such a relief – he’s home safe now!” Cpl Byrne was also welcomed home by his little sister Grace (10), and his girlfriend Maria.

Rachel, the partner of returning soldier Private Seán Cloherty, said that she avoided watching the news especially after the violence broke out in October:

“I try not to watch the news. Seán says he’ll always call me whenever I need to know something.” Majella Feehan, the mother of Cpl Fionn Feehan said that “I can finally sleep now!

“It’s such a relief that he’s home. He’s missed so much as well, family confirmations, funerals. So much has changed out there and back here since he’s left.”

Some of the most emotional reunions included parents with their children, such as Pte James McGlynn, from Roosky in Co Roscommon. He again echoed the sentiment that it had been a long six months as he hoisted his son Mason into his arms.

Private McGlynn said that Mason is now four years old, and then Mason interjects with “four and a half!”, which made both father and son laugh.

Also present at the airport on Friday afternoon were Senator Diarmuid Wilson and Senator Gerard P. Craughwell. Senator Wilson was waiting to welcome home his son, Pte James Patrick Wilson, from his first ever overseas deployment. Senator Craughwell was also a former member of the Defence Forces.

Both Senators acknowledged the historic nature of the occasion, as this was the last Irish deployment to the Golan Heights, where the troops had been a constant peacekeeping presence for the past decade.