A fitting tribute to Irish heroes

Sir — I was deeply moved by Alan O’Keeffe’s feature ‘These Irishmen were the real heroes’ (Sunday Independent, May 27).

It was a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives in the cause of peace.

I am now in my 80s and have had a life-long interest in and admiration for our Defence Forces. As a young man I served in the FCA, as it was then known, and from it I developed a deep interest in all the activities of the professional army.

I have had the great privilege as a bishop of visiting serving battalions on four occasions in Lebanon. I am sure that such visits could be quite a nuisance but I was always received warmly and cheerfully. These visits gave me considerable insight, not only into the outstanding efficiency of the troops but also the skills displayed in peacekeeping.

Soldiers are trained to be aggressive, but a peacekeeping role is very different, and diplomacy with firmness must take first place. This was noteworthy, to give an example, when approaching a Hezbollah checkpoint where no chances could be taken in such a volatile and delicate situation.

On several occasions I was taken to visit those lonely observation outposts where a small number of men had only the visit of the water truck to relieve them during the day.

I have seen also the interest soldiers have taken in the people living in their battalion area, for instance building protective walls around a school which was frequently in danger from violence.

Nevertheless, while taking all this interest and fostering good relationships with the people they still had to be vigilant at all times for danger was ever present, as Alan O’Keeffe pointed out poignantly.

Leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land some years ago I discovered a little church well away from the crowded waterfront in Tiberias. On entry I saw only two small memorials, one on each wall. On them were the names of two Irish soldiers killed in the Golan Heights who were laid in this church overnight before being returned to Ireland for burial. Two more heroes were at least remembered in a foreign land — it felt very lonely in that little church.

Once again, thank you for that article of remembrance.

To my mind those serving in the cause of peace are the best ambassadors we have, as I have pointed out many times.

To the deceased heroes, may you rest in peace, and to those still serving may you be kept in peace and safety. Bishop Walton Empey,

Tullow, Co Carlow