‘I’d be very careful about how I’d approach people here’

CAPTAIN Aileen Leonard is in charge of the Defence Forces’ mortar troops in the Lebanon. Standing in the midday 35C heat at the Irish headquarters in Camp Shamrock, the Cork woman explained that she was in charge of 30 Irish soldiers in her unit.

She said she had not had any issues with locals as a female since arriving in the southern part of Lebanon, where the population is mainly Muslim.

“I’d be very careful about how I would approach Lebanese people here. I normally wait for them to make the first introduction. Sometimes they’d be quite happy to shake your hand, other times they might just put their hand on their heart. I would just do the same back to them. Sometimes, it’s their thing that they don’t touch a female.”

Her unit oversee the use of 120 mm mortars, which are there to be used as one of the main lines of defence for the Irish camp, which lies close to the blue line divide with Israel.

The 28-year-old from Skibbereen, west Cork, previously was stationed in Chad, in Central Africa, in 2008.

Meanwhile, three brothers from Mullingar are stationed in Lebanon as part of the peacekeeping mission to the United Nations.

Gerard, Nigel and Alan Graham are part of the new Irish peacekeeping mission, but their father before them also served in the Defence Forces.

The oldest, Gerard, 39, a father of two, explained: “This is my fourth time serving in Lebanon. It was great to get back and be back with my brothers.”

Alan, 36, also a father of two, said the siblings focused on their own individual jobs while working at Camp Shamrock.

“The camp is busy on a day to day basis. We all have different jobs and don’t always bump into each other. In the evening times, we chill out if we’re not on duty, we’ll have a cup of tea and ask how things are at home. The three of us are in the camp but most of the time going different directions with our jobs.”

A fourth Graham brother also served for a while in the forces.

Having so many family members in the army though was something their mother took in her stride, added the brothers.

Nigel, 28, the youngest brother and a father of one, said: “I knew eventually that I’d work in the army and followed suit with them and my father.”

The three brothers are part of the 104th battalion’s quick reaction force, charged with responding to emergency situations or clashes as part of the Irish peacekeeping mission.