More than 200 Irish Defence Force members are greeted with heartfelt reunions after a six-month deployment in southern Lebanon.

Emotions ran high as over 200 members of the Irish Defence Forces arrived home on Monday morning after completing a six-month mission with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil). The scene at Dublin Airport was filled with cheers and tears as families and friends gathered at Terminal 1 to welcome their loved ones back from the volatile region of southern Lebanon.

Banners reading messages like “Welcome home son” and “Sgt Molloy report for daddy duty” were held aloft, while children waved Irish and UN flags in anticipation of seeing their returning heroes. As the doors opened, a wave of emotion swept through the crowd, with many parents, spouses, and children rushing to embrace their loved ones.

The Irish peacekeepers were stationed at Camp Shamrock (United Nations Post 2-45), located near the Israeli border, where they narrowly avoided injury in a rocket attack last month during clashes between the Israel Defence Forces and Hezbollah militants. Despite the risks, the troops completed their mission safely.

The troops were part of the 124th Infantry Battalion, deployed in May as part of Unifil’s Chapter 6 Peace Support Operations. The battalion, drawn from the 7th Infantry Battalion in Dublin, worked alongside personnel from Malta, Poland, and Hungary.

The soldiers, aged between 19 and 58, included 92 individuals who were deployed abroad for the first time. Among the excited families waiting at the airport was Private Jack Cassidy’s family, who proudly waved a Co Meath flag while holding a “Home Sweet Home” sign. Cassidy’s grandfather expressed immense pride in his grandson, who had always dreamed of helping others.

For many families, the uncertainty of the soldiers’ safety during their deployment was difficult to bear. Daniel Keenan, a member of the Defence Forces from Belfast, spoke about the mental toll on the families back home. “It’s harder on them. When we’re out there, we’re focused on the mission, but our families are left wondering,” he said.

For Calvin Conway, the reunion was particularly special as he embraced his young son Rian and partner Nicole after six months apart. He joked about the family’s plans for Christmas shopping and expressed his gratitude for being home safe.

The troops’ return marked a proud and emotional moment for both them and their families, as they were finally reunited after months of separation and uncertainty.