Private Seán Rooney remembered on St Patrick's Day in Lebanon

Fallen soldier Private Seán Rooney was remembered in Lebanon on St Parrick's Day.

The Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, visited Irish troops at Camp Shamrock in Lebanon on Friday.

The Ceann Comhairle spoke to members of the 121st Infantry Battalion of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), with whom Private Rooney was serving when he was killed in December.

The Kildare South TD also with Lebanon's Minister of Defence, Maurice Sleem and the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri.

Poignant moment as Creeslough remembers its dead at St Patrick's Day parade

Hundreds lined the streets of Creeslough for the annual St Patrick's Day parade, which included a minute's silence to remember those who have died in the north Donegal parish

A wreath was laid in Peace Keeping Square in memory of the 48 Irish Defence Forces personnel who have lost their lives in the service of peace in the country.

“As we gather here this afternoon, we do so less in celebration than would normally be the case around St Patrick’s Day, and with more of a heavy heart,” Ceann Comhairle Ó Fearghaíl told the soldiers.

“You, the members of the 121st Battalion have come through a very difficult experience. The tragic death last December of your comrade and friend Private Seán Rooney and the serious injuries suffered by Private Shane Kearney, were a shocking reminder to all of the risks taken by each and every one of you, in discharging your duty and maintaining our country’s proud record and reputation”.

Noting that St Patrick's Day marked '100 Years of Ireland in the World', he added: “A century of our country's engagement as an active member of the international community in the promotion of democracy, peace and security.

“Nowhere is this engagement more evident, than in the work you do here in South Lebanon”.

A 24-year-old peacekeeper, Private Rooney was shot dead when the vehicle he was driving came under attack in the Al-Aqbieh area of south Lebanon on December 14.

Private Rooney was a native of Dundalk and had lived in Newtowncunningham for the last decade. A former student at St Eunan's College in Letterkenny, Private Rooney served with the 27th Infantry Battalion in Dundalk.

Private Rooney was laid to rest in Newtown with full military honours.