The family of a young Irish soldier killed on duty in Lebanon have paid him a touching tribute by erecting a stunning memorial at his graveside.
Private Seán Rooney, 24, died on December 14th, 2022, when his UN jeep was ambushed by a “hostile mob” while on peacekeeping duty.
He was the 48th Irish soldier to die in Lebanon
Private Rooney, whose family hail from Donegal and Dundalk, was buried with full military honours and laid to rest in the village of Newtowncunningham.
His family has now erected a beautiful headstone to Seán in the graveyard at All Saints Catholic Church which includes a picture of the brave soldier in his Irish army uniform.
An inscription on the headstone reads “Proud I stood, Now Proud I lie, Pray for peace, As You Pass by, My Life is over, My Peace Duties Done, Now God Has Taken, His soldier home.”
That poetic inscription was composed by Sean’s grandfather Eugene Rooney.
Private Seán Rooney, RIP
The tribute also includes a plaque erected by Sean’s loving fiancee Holly McConnellogue.
Seán and Holly were engaged and due to be married on August 8th last year, just eight months after the young solder was killed.
On the day they were due to marry Holly wrote “08/08/23 We might not be getting married today but we will make up for everything we missed out on when I see you again.”
She also shared a photo of Seán picking his wedding ring in a jewellery shop in 2022.
The newly-erected plaque in memory of Seán includes a picture of the loving couple in happier times.
It also includes a poem which Sean wrote when he was just 7 or eight years old in his own hand-writing.
It reads “Love – Feeling that you would like to know that person forever, Love is about giving and sharing, Love is a spoonful of medicine when you’re sick, Love is happiness, Love never ends – Sean O R.”
One person has been charged in connection with Private Rooney’s death and a number of probes are ongoing into the fatal incident.
