Lebanese to celebrate independence

Members of the 400-strong Lebanese community in Ireland will today hold events to celebrate their annual independence day.

A photo exhibition will be hosted in Leixlip, Co Kildare by the Irish Lebanese Cultural Foundation.

The event will be attended by the Lebanese Ambassador HE Enaam Osseiran who is based in London but has diplomatic responsibility for Ireland.

Irish artist Shauna O’Boyle will exhibit photographs of Beirut she has taken since 2000.

Foundation spokesman Guy Jones said Ireland and Lebanon have enjoyed close links since it achieved independence from France in 1943.

He said: “After many years of conflict, daily life is slowly returning to normal.”

Earlier this year the Foundation paid tribute to Irish UN peacekeepers who served in Lebanon since 1978.