‘I missed them so much’ – Irish troops arrive home from Syria after six-month deployment

The anticipation was palpable as the arrivals hall filled with loved ones, holding banners and balloons in excitement for the troops.

“It’s great to have him home,” Breege Reynolds said after she was reunited with her husband Gary Reynolds after the six month deployment.

“We’re just so happy and grateful that they’re home safely, that’s the most important thing,” Ms Reynolds added.

Mr Reynold’s welcoming party also included his son EJ (2) and his mother, Mary.

“I’m going to the nearest chipper anyway,” Mr Reynolds said when asked how they would spend his first day home.

“It’s great to be back, I missed them so much. It’s so hard to be away but now that we’re back, we’re off for a month so it’s family time for a month,” Mr Reynolds added.

Karina Paulauskaite gripped the arm of her boyfriend Adam Murphy as he wheeled his bags out, it was a long wait.

“I’m overwhelmed. I was waiting six months and we’re living together so I was alone for all that time, I’m even shaking right now,” Ms Paulauskaite said.

“I’m not going to let him go again,” she added, not releasing her hold on him.

While there was internet connection that allowed Mr Murphy to keep in touch with his loved ones, the last two weeks were difficult when wifi issues made it nearly impossible.

“It started breaking down towards the end, the wifi would go on and off. You couldn’t make video calls, they’d go off after a couple of seconds,” Mr Murphy said.

“They’re important, they keep you connected,” he added.

A support system was hugely important for Brenda Conlon who leaned on those around her while her husband Paul Conlon was away.

Standing with her children Senan, Oisin and Saoirse, there were smiles and a few tears to see Mr Conlon arrive home.

“We have a great network around us and it’s nanny and grandad and sisters and family and community who take you through it and you lean on them. As long as they’re all back together and all back safe, that’s all that matters,” Ms Conlon said.

Their arrival home marked the end of the peacekeeping mission to Syria, a decade after troops were first deployed there.

Last year, Tánaiste Micheál Martin announced the withdrawal of the Irish soldiers in the Golan Heights. The decision came after an assessment of the sustainability of the Defence Forces’ overseas commitments.

Lieutenant Colonel Conor King, General Secretary of the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers said the withdrawal of Irish troops from Syria was due to staffing difficulties.

“We’re just finding it impossible to staff two reasonably large overseas missions at the same time,” Mr King told Morning Ireland.

“This is due to a failure to retain suitably qualified and experienced personnel over a number of years due to poor policy in terms of HR and retention,” he added.