A week of sadness and mourning is tinged with pride as the family, friends and colleagues of Private Seán Rooney mark his first anniversary.
The 24-year-old, from Dundalk but moved to Newtowncunnigham when he was 12, was killed while serving in a UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon last December. Two armoured vehicles carrying members of 121st Infantry Battalion came under fire.
“There is no more noble work than that of the peacekeeper,” Tánaiste Micheál Martin told the Dáil in a tribute to Pte Rooney this morning.
Also this morning, troops of the 123rd Infantry Battalion UNIFIL began their commemorations of their fallen comrade Pte Seán Rooney with a silent dawn parade. If the security situation allows, the troops will travel for a ceremony at the Tibnine memorial.
The entire Irish-Polish Battalion paraded in silence to honour the memory of our fallen comrade, Pte Seán Rooney. Photo: 123 Infantry Battalion UNIFIL
Seán was a beloved son who was engaged to be married to young Derry woman Hollaí Nic Conaill Óig. Their wedding date was set for August this year.
A poignant coincidence saw Seán’s First anniversary mass taking place at the church of the Holy Family Dundalk on the 12th December, the same date and same church that he was baptised as a baby 25 years ago in 1998.
The mass also fell on the Feast Day of the pregnant Madonna, Our Lady of Guadalupe. A plaque in memory of Seán was erected in the church to pray for all anxious and expecting Mothers.
The plaque bears the heartwrenching words of Seán’s mother, Natasha, who gave a moving testimony at his funeral last December about how Seán was placed in her arms when she was only 16 years old. Natasha swore to give her baby boy a good life, a home and a mother to be proud of.
Plaque in memory of Pte Seán Rooney placed at the Church of the Holy Family in Dundalk beside a blessed image of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Seán died protecting life and peace, Archbishop Eamon Martin told the first anniversary Mass on Tuesday.
“Our sadness today is tinged also with hope and joy in knowing that Seán’s witness to peacekeeping and protection of life will continue. He lives on in our hearts and prayers today and always. May he rest in peace and may all of Seán’s family, loved ones and many friends and comrades find consolation in knowing they were special to Seán, and he to them,” Archbishop Martin said.
In the past year, Private Rooney’s supreme sacrifice was been marked many times worldwide.
Murals and a plaque have been created at Camp Shamrock in Lebanon to honour the fallen soldier.
This week in Drogheda, over €21,000 was raised by the Seán Rooney Memorial Cup in aid of Rainbows Ireland, a special charity which Seán benefitted from himself.
In Newtowncunningham, a wreath laying ceremony took place on Sunday at Pte Rooney’s graveside at the All Saints Church. Wreaths were laid on behalf of IUNVA Posts 19, 2 and 10, O.N.E, 28th Bn Association and the Military Police Association.
Army veteran Daniel Toland made a presentation to Paul and Natasha McCloskey parents of the late Pte Sean Rooney and his girlfriend Holly McConnelogue at a wreath laying cermony at his grave in Newtoncunnigham. (NW Newspix)
UNIFIL veteran, Jim O’Hagan playing the Last Post at the graveside of Pte Sean Rooney during a wreath laying ceremony. (NW Newspix)
Investigations continue into the fatal shooting of peacekeeper Private Seán Rooney in south Lebanon.
Only one suspect has been charged after he was handed over to the authorities by Hezbollah in December last year. The suspect, Mohamad Ayyad, has since been released on bail. Four other men face charges over the killing but remain at large.
The suspect’s trial is ongoing and another hearing is due to take place on Friday.
