The mother of a fallen soldier killed when his convoy came under attack was given a standing ovation after a touching tribute to her son who has been called a “national hero”.
Private Sean Rooney, from Newtowncunningham, Ireland, died last week during service in Lebanon.
A member of the Irish Defence Forces, the 24-year-old’s body has now been returned to his devastated family.
Mourners attended the funeral of the Irish peacekeeping soldier on Thursday as the coffin carrying Pte Rooney’s body was carried into Holy Family Church in Dundalk.
The Irish tricolour and a UN flag were draped over it.
“Today is the most difficult of days,” chief celebrant Fr Derek Ryan told the congregation in his opening words.
Belfast Live reports the family of Pte Rooney included his mother Natasha, his father Paul, his grandparents Eugene and Rachel, his grandmother Ann McClusky, sisters Robyn and Carragh, brothers Callum and Benn and his fiancee Holly.
In her eulogy, the parent said there were “no words strong enough” and “no words great enough to express the love that I have for Sean and how proud" she was of her son.
“Sean was placed in my arms when I was 16 years old. He gave me purpose, I wanted to do better for Sean …I wanted Sean to have a mother he could be proud of,” she said.
Pte Rooney’s mum received a standing ovation as she finished the eulogy by saying: “I will love you forever, son, and I can’t wait to be reunited with you in heaven.”
Irish President Michael D Higgins, Irish premier Leo Varadkar, Tanaiste Micheal Martin and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris were among those in attendance as well as some of Pte Rooney’s colleagues from Lebanon.
In his homily, Fr Ryan said Pte Rooney’s death “really did pierce the heart of his family” and the wider community.
“It breaks the human heart when a loved one dies serving their country for the important work of peacebuilding,” the parish priest told mourners. “It breaks all our hearts.”
He added: “The pain of losing Sean so suddenly, and so tragically, is the greatest pain you can experience as a family and as a community and as a country.”
Fr Ryan read a statement by Pte Rooney’s fiancee Holly who said as her relationship with Sean advanced “it became clear, Sean is not only my other half, he’s my better half”.
“I can say for certain that he would have been a fantastic husband and an even better father,” she said. “His presence immediately made me feel at ease. And he would always protect me and make me feel safe.”
She said she is “absolutely heartbroken” that their life together had been cut short, but she feels “extremely lucky” to have been afforded “three wonderful years”.
The congregation also heard Pte Rooney “adored” his family, especially his mother Natasha. There was sustained applause in the church when Natasha told the congregation: “He is a national hero.”
Later Pte Rooney will be taken to All Saints Catholic Church in Colehill, Co Donegal, for a burial service with full military honours.
Before his body left Beirut on a flight home, Pte Rooney was awarded a number of honours posthumously, including a peacekeeping medal from the UN and an appreciation medal from the Lebanese armed forces.
He was accompanied on the flight home by a number of colleagues from 121 Infantry Battalion, including his company commander, who is understood to have never left his side.
Another soldier who was injured in the same incident was flown back to Ireland on Wednesday to receive further medical treatment.
Irish Army Private Shane Kearney, 22, from Killeagh, Co Cork, suffered a serious head injury.
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.
