Young Limerick woman set to be deployed to Lebanon ‘just hoping for a safe trip’

A YOUNG Limerick woman who is set to be deployed to Lebanon in the coming weeks has said she is “just hoping for a safe trip”.

Lieutenant Zara Bolger, who lives on Ennis Road in Limerick city, is one of 344 Defence Forces members heading to the Middle East on May 15.

The 25-year-old and her colleagues will engage in peacekeeping in the region as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Minister Helen McEntee conducted a ministerial review of the battalion at Sarsfield Barracks in Limerick city last Tuesday afternoon.

The troops, 34 of which are from Limerick, were joined by their friends and family for the ceremony ahead of the six-month deployment.

Speaking after the ceremony, Lieutenant Bolger said she is looking forward to getting the opportunity to help the Lebanese people.

She stated: “Obviously they’re quite displaced at the minute but it’s kind of the same thing. You just want to go over and help those people.

“We’re so fortunate to live in the world that we live in and they live in a completely different world and to be able to go over and help them, it’s such a privilege.”

Asked whether she is worried about increased tensions in the region, Lieutenant Bolger insisted that she and her colleagues are well prepared for the trip.

“We can only control the controllables and we’ve done that in the last few weeks.

“We’ve put time and effort into honing in all of our drills and like if something happens, it’s not going to be a fault of our own.

“We’ve put in so much time and effort into all those things and as you heard the minister say, we do the best we can and that’s all they can ask of us.”

She went on to praise the support of her friends and family, which she said will be vital over the course of the trip.

“Everyone is so supportive. I think they just put an emphasis on [it being] hard for them for us to go but it’s even harder for us to get on the plane and actually go.

“But like I can’t fault them, they’re just so supportive and I know that when I do have a bad day that I’ll be able to call home and chat to them.”

Lieutenant Bolger continued by outlining the training that the battalion has undertaken

“Well we’ve been here for the last nearly three months preparing. Whether that was in the classroom, learning about things or then when we were in the Glen of Imaal for the last few weeks, doing everything from counter ID, to medical, to comms equipment, like all sorts of training.

“I think when you meet people who have been before, they have nothing but good things to say and they are just so supportive as well, so it’s all positive really.”

She concluded by saying that she is “just hoping for a safe trip” and that the region can be handed over in the best way possible.

Her mother, Gemma, told reporters at Sarsfield Barracks how proud she is of her daughter but admitted her concern given current tensions in the Middle East.

Ms Bolger said: “I’m very proud of her. Obviously, she’s very happy with her career.

“I’m a little bit more concerned than what I thought I would be, given what’s going on over there.

“But she’s surrounded by the battalion, who are a wonderful group, and I think she’s in very safe hands and she will represent us very well over there.

“I think they’re well equipped, they’re well trained and I think they will do a very good job over there.”

She concluded by saying that she is hoping that her daughter will have a safe trip and that she is already “counting down the days” until her return.

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