Hero soldier Seán Rooney, who was killed in an ambush in Lebanon last week, is to be laid to rest with fully military honours in Co Donegal, the Defence Forces have announced.
The private, whose remains were flown home from Lebanon earlier this morning, will be laid to rest on Thursday, the Army said.
“He will be laid to rest with full military honours,” a spokeswoman said.
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The requiem mass for Private Rooney (23) will be held at the Holy Family Church, Dundalk, Co Louth – where the soldier spent much of his short life and where he was based with the Army’s 27 th Infantry Battalion.
But the army said his burial service will take place at All Saints Catholic Church, Colehill, County Donegal at approximately 3.30pm.
Although born in Dundalk, the soldier moved to Newtowncunningham in Co Donegal at the age of 12 with his family - although he kept strong ties to the County Louth town and returned there to serve with the Army,.
A Defence Forces statement said: “The removal of the remains of Pte Seán Rooney RIP to Holy Family Church, Dundalk will take place on Thursday 22 December 2022 at 0830hrs for 0900hrs Mass
This will be followed by a burial service in All Saints Catholic Church, Colehill, Donegal (Estimated Time 1530hrs).
“He will be buried with full military honours.”
The Defence Forces released the soldier’s funeral details shortly after his remains were flown to the Air Corps HQ at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, south County Dublin this morning.
The remains were transported on an Air Corps CASA aircraft which flew through the night from Beirut International Airport.
The 23-year-old's remains left Beirut Airport on Sunday afternoon after a solemn UN ceremony was held to honour the soldier ahead of his journey home.
He was accompanied on the flight by a number of his colleagues from 121 Infantry Battalion, including his company commander.
Pte Rooney's body arrived at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, on the outskirts of Dublin on Monday morning.
A short prayer service was held after his body was returned to his family, who were given some private time with his remains.
His mother, his fiancee, his mother's partner, his three uncles and his grandfather were among those present as his coffin was carried from the aircraft.
Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Micheal Martin also attended on Monday morning.
The white coffin, draped in an Irish tricolour, was carried by a number of pall bearers and was driven away in a hearse accompanied by a Garda escort shortly afterwards.
Pte Rooney's colleague, Trooper Shane Kearney, from Killeagh, Co Cork, was seriously injured in the same incident and remains in a serious condition in hospital.
Two other peacekeepers were treated for minor injuries.
The soldiers were part of 121st Infantry Battalion, comprising 333 Irish troops, which was deployed in November to south Lebanon as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil).
On Sunday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar reiterated his condolences to Pte Rooney's family and friends and colleagues in the Defence Forces.
He said it is important to understand the circumstances of the attack.
Three investigations are under way: one led by the UN, another by the Defence Forces and a third by the Lebanese government.
Mr Varadkar said: "I would have confidence in those investigations to find out exactly what happened, why an Irish soldier lost his life and another was severely injured.
"It's important that we do that. It's also important that we avoid any speculation, I think, at this point until those investigations are done.
"But the main thing, I think, this week really is to stand with and express our condolences to Private Rooney's family, his friends and colleagues because it's been a long time since we lost a soldier in combat in Lebanon. But it does remind us how important that mission is."
Mr Varadkar said the Irish peacekeeping soldiers' efforts have allowed people "in that part of Lebanon for the last few decades to lead a relatively normal life, which wouldn't be the case otherwise".
"It's an immensely valuable mission - over 40,000 Irish people have served there, which is extraordinary if you think about it - and one that we're very committed to," the Taoiseach added.
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