Death of Lt. Gen. William O’Callaghan

A Buttevant man who held the two most important United Nations appointments in the Middle East during a period in the 1980s died over the Christmas period. Lieutenant General William O’Callaghan, who was affectionately known as Bill by his family and friends, joined the Defence Forces in 1939, and was Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon from February 1981 to May 1986, and the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation from April 1978 to June 1979, and again from May 1986 to June 1987. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal from the Irish Defence Forces for his outstanding contribution, as well as the French Légion d’Honneur and the Lebanese National Order of the Cedar.

Predeceased by his wife Carmel, with seven children, Marie, Patricia (Connellan), Carmel (Empey) Bill, Claire (O’Leary) Declan and Fiona, he was buried in Shanganagh Cemetery, Dublin, on Wednesday, December 30th.