The Siege of Jadotville

The Siege of Jadotville occurred in September 1961 during the Congo Crisis. Irish UN peacekeeping troops, led by Commander Pat Quinlan, were stationed in the town of Jadotville. They were unexpectedly attacked by a much larger force of Katangese soldiers and mercenaries. The Irish soldiers fought bravely for six days but were eventually overwhelmed and surrendered. Although they were considered prisoners and later praised for their resilience, the incident was initially misunderstood and criticized. The event highlighted the complexities of peacekeeping missions and has since been recognized as a display of courage and discipline by the Irish troops.