WATCH: Louth father and son prepare for historic final peacekeeping mission to Lebanon

A Dundalk father and son are preparing to serve alongside each other on an overseas mission, as Ireland’s decades-long peacekeeping commitment in Lebanon faces the prospect of coming to an end.

Sergeant Séamus Ó Donnacha and his son, Private Alex O’Donnacha, are among the personnel preparing to deploy with the 69th Infantry Group to southern Lebanon in November.

For Sergeant Ó Donnacha, the upcoming deployment will mark his seventh overseas mission and his fourth tour of duty in Lebanon. For his son, Alex, it will be his first overseas deployment.

The opportunity to serve alongside his father has made the experience particularly meaningful for Alex.

“This is my very first trip, I am feeling mostly excited, it's my first trip and the fact that I get to do it with my own father speaks a lot,” Private O’Donnacha said.

“It is my very first trip and it also so happens to be my last, so it is a special one.”

For the pair, the deployment represents not only an important moment in their military careers, but also a unique opportunity to share an experience that has defined much of Sergeant Ó Donnacha’s life in the Defence Forces.

The 69th Infantry Group is completing its Mission Readiness Exercise in the Glen of Imaal, Co Wicklow, ahead of its planned departure in November. Almost 300 personnel are preparing to take over duties from the 128th Infantry Battalion as part of Ireland’s contribution to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

However, the deployment carries added significance, with the current UNIFIL mandate scheduled to end on December 31 and a subsequent drawdown and withdrawal of forces expected during 2027.

For Sergeant Ó Donnacha, who first served in Lebanon in 2000, the possibility that this could mark the end of Ireland’s long-standing presence in the country is difficult to ignore.

“This is my seventh mission and fourth time to Lebanon. I served in Kosovo, Chad and Syria,” he said.

Reflecting on Ireland’s history in the region, Sergeant Ó Donnacha said the potential conclusion of the mission was a sad moment for those who have spent years contributing to peacekeeping efforts there.

“It does weigh on my mind, because this is my fourth time going to the Lebanon, the Irish have a great tradition in South Lebanon for peace keeping and it is said in a way that we are actually leaving,” he said.

“Hopefully now another mission will come up soon.”

He added that the wider significance of the potential withdrawal could not be overlooked.

“The bigger picture is sad because since 1978 we had over 30,000 troops that served in Lebanon, it is an end of an era.”

Since the mission began in 1978, more than 30,000 Irish personnel have served in Lebanon, making it one of the most enduring chapters in the history of the Defence Forces.

For Sergeant Ó Donnacha, the country has changed considerably over the course of his deployments. His first mission there was with the 87th Battalion in 2000, before returning in 2022 and again in 2024.

“My first mission within the Lebanon was with the 87th Battalion in 2000. The last time I was over was in 2024. I have noticed a lot of changes,” he said.

“My second time was there in 2022. Even from 2022 to 2024 the change there has been substantial.”

During the upcoming deployment, Sergeant Ó Donnacha will serve in the Tactical Operations Centre, where his role as a sergeant will contribute to the operational work of the Irish contingent.

While his extensive experience means he is familiar with the demands of overseas service, leaving family behind remains one of the most difficult aspects of any deployment.

However, he said his wife and children have grown accustomed to the realities of military life.

“Not really, my wife and kids are well used to it now,” he said when asked whether his family had expressed concerns about the upcoming mission.

“The hardest part going over seas is leaving family, five of my trips has been with kids, so the fact that I am going now with my son, that is a big honour in itself.”

That sense of honour is at the heart of the pair’s upcoming deployment. While many soldiers will be travelling to Lebanon for their first experience of peacekeeping, Sergeant Ó Donnacha will be returning to a country that has played a major role in his military career, this time with his son beside him.

The 69th Infantry Group is made up primarily of personnel from the Defence Forces’ Second Brigade area, with Dundalk’s Aiken Barracks, home to the 27th Infantry Battalion, serving as the lead unit.

Its personnel are undertaking demanding training exercises designed to prepare them for the challenges they may face in southern Lebanon. These include live firing, simulated mortar attacks, casualty evacuations, ambushes and patrols.

The training is intended to ensure that the contingent is ready for the responsibilities of peacekeeping in a region that remains volatile.

The group also includes another father-and-son pair from Cavan, underlining the family connections that have long formed part of Ireland’s military tradition.

The mission will also carry profound significance for those who have served in Lebanon over the decades, particularly the families of the 48 members of the Defence Forces who lost their lives while serving with UNIFIL.

As the latest contingent prepares to take up its duties, it will do so with an awareness of the sacrifices made by those who served before them.