Doing 'The World's Most Important Work': From Cyprus to Liberia

Abstract

This paper outlines part of the history of the involvement of the Irish Defence Forces with United Nations peacekeeping missions. From the earliest experiences of Irish peacekeepers on traditional missions with the UN, to more recent contributions in terms of the provision of training programs or the development of concepts and doctrines for the more complex operations that the UN now has to deal with, it can be seen that Ireland has always had a valuable role in the important work of peacekeeping. The involvement of the Irish Defence Forces in the UN's operations in Cyprus and Liberia serve as examples in this paper to highlight that role, to demonstrate the changing nature of UN missions and to reinforce how Ireland continues to contribute to the vital work of peacekeeping.