“Tell me, do you believe in the power of peace?”. An old veteran, his medals gleaming in the afternoon sun, turned to me with a twinkle in his eye. We stood before the UN Veterans Memorial Stele, a solemn stone structure in Dublin. The Stele, he explained, is more than just a monument. It’s a tribute to the brave Irish men and women who served under the UN flag, risking their lives in the pursuit of peace. Their names, etched into the stone, tell stories of courage and sacrifice from places like Lebanon, Cyprus, and the Congo. Places often ravaged by conflict, where these peacekeepers brought hope and stability.
Irish Mercantile Marine Memorial Stone
In a time of global conflict, Ireland stood apart, a small island nation clinging to neutrality. Yet, the Irish Mercantile