Veterans commemorate deployment of Irish troops to Congo

Around a thousand veterans and their families are commemorating the 50th anniversary of the deployment of Irish troops to Congo.

A ceremony is taking place this afternoon at Baldonnel Airport fifty years to the day since the first troops departed here.

It was the first time that armed members of the defence forces went on a peacekeeping mission with the United Nations.

Some 26 Irish soldiers were killed during the four year mission. It was the worst loss of life was in the Niemba ambush when nine of the 11-man Irish patrol were killed by Baluba tribesmen.