Victims of Israel-Hezbollah conflict to be remembered

The victims of the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict will be remembered today in ceremonies in Dublin and Thurles.

The Irish-Lebanese Cultural Foundation is to hold a two-minute silence in Dublin’s Garden of Remembrance at noon to remember the dead and injured.

At the same time, St Mary’s Garden of Remembrance in Thurles will hold a similar ceremony as a mark of respect, organised by the local Duras Eile Eliogarty Memorial Committee.

St Mary’s Garden of Remembrance already contains the only Lebanese flag in Ireland, which will be flown at half mast during the brief event.

The site also contains a memorial to former Irish UN soldiers who died while on tours of duty in Lebanon and a plaque remembering assassinated Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri, who won this year’s Tipperary International Peace Award.

The Irish Lebanese Cultural Foundation was set up in 2001 by Lebanese native Guy Jones to promote closer ties between Ireland and Lebanon.

A special Mass for Peace will also be celebrated by the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin in the Pro-Cathedral today at 6pm.

Dr Martin also called for prayers for victims in Lebanon, Israel and Palestine to be said at all Masses today and tomorrow.