There were emotional scenes at Dublin Airport today as 170 Irish troops from the 125th Infantry Battalion returned home following a six-month deployment with UNIFIL in Lebanon.
From earlier this afternoon, families had gathered at Dublin airport.
After waiting six months, they had to hold on just a little more to be see with their loved ones, the tour of duty coming to an end.
Lisa Ryan was waiting for her husband, Wayne. She was with her daughters, Hannah and Aoife - who was celebrating her 7th birthday.
"It's been a long time, but we’re extremely proud of him," she said.
Just after 3pm, there were joyous scenes as the soldiers stepped into the arrivals hall.
Gunner Brian Lane quickly took hold of his daughter. "It was tough enough mentally over there. Once the ceasefire came in, it started to ease off a small bit. We got through it anyway. It’s good to be back on home soil as they say," he said.
There were similar sentiments from Corporal Glen O'Sullivan. "It’s good to be back, thank God. I missed everyone,’" he said.
Asked about what his plans now were, his mother, Linda, chimed in: "His mammy is going to look after him for a couple of days. I have Clonakilty sausages ready in the fridge and all for him."
From the man in charge, Lieutenant Colonel Shane Rockett, there was an acknowledgement that this tour was a particularly challenging one.
"My main priority as a commander is to get everyone back safe and sound and we've done that. So, I’m very relieved in that regards. It was probably be the most kinetic tour of duty I’ve been on in my career, and I’ve had nine tours," he said.
For Captain Donal Lonergan too, there was relief. He said: "I’m excited to get home now and bring out the bins, cut the grass all that normal stuff that we missed out on for the last six months."
His wife, Rachel, said: "It was very worrying. In particular, the start of the trip was severely concerning. This is great to have him back on Irish soil in one piece."
