Emotional but proud moment for one Lebanon bound soldier
For one Athlone woman, preparing for her first peacekeeping mission in Lebanon has added significance and brings back poignant memories of a major loss in her family.
While Pte Cheyanne O'Neill from The Batteries admits it is an emotional time as her grandmother's brother died in Lebanon back in 1986, it's also a proud moment for her personally to serve overseas and continue a family tradition.
“I'm a little bit nervous but I'm looking forward to going. It's a big thing for my family for me to be going. My nana's brother William O'Brien lost his life out there on December 6th in 1986,” she says.
Just 25, Pte William O’Brien died on sentry duty with UNIFIL after being shot by bullet believed to have been fired from an area occupied by the Israel-supporting De Facto Forces.
Cheyanne’s upcoming trip has brought back a lot of memories for her grandmother Stacia Lynch (née O'Brien) of her beloved brother, and while at the start, it was hard for her to see her in the blue beret, she has got more used to it now.
“It's an emotional time, the last few weeks before I go. She's trying to get it into her head that I'm actually going. It's an emotional time but it's a very proud moment to be going too to serve out there after them.
“I'm the first to go on my side of the family and the first girl to go overall, so it is an emotional time for them but I'm looking forward to going and saying I have served after our loved ones.”
The young soldier says her grandmother tells her how proud she is of her every day.
“The whole lot of them (her family) are very proud. They're a bit nervous for me but there is a good group going and a lot from Athlone,” something she says makes preparations easier.
Cheyanne, a champion boxer, joined the army back in 2017, and she says her experience has been hugely positive.
“I love the job, it gives you great experiences and a lot of discipline in your life as well,” the Athlone native explains, adding that the people you meet become friends for life.
While club boxing training has been on hold since after Christmas, and the Elite or Irish Championships didn't happen in January because of Covid restrictions, Cheyanne (24) is hopeful she'll be able to keep training herself while she's away from home. However, she feels the pro ranks will be in her future and a new challenge.
Speaking of the attraction of the pro ranks, the Athlone woman adds: “It's something I'd like to do, I like the no head guards, and at the moment it's the place to be. I've been thinking about it for a little while now and I do think I'd make a mark there.”
Although she is fully vaccinated, Cheyanne will not have any leave home during her deployment because of Covid-19, so she will be away seven months in total.
“When I get home, please God, in November, the Elites are normally in January so it gives me another eight weeks to see what happens there and make my decision from there.
“But I think down the line, I'll definitely be joining the pro ranks at some stage whether that's the start of next year or the end of next year, that'll fare out itself,” she tells the Westmeath Independent.
While Cheyanne has been very successful in the amateur ranks, she is missing an Irish title, something she'd love to rectify before making any change.
“I've won every other title as an amateur except an Elite (All Ireland) title, I just got to the final so I'd like to win an Elite title, then I think it wouldn't bother me (making the change to pro) because I'd have every other title as an amateur from 13 years of age to Elite level,” she explains.
A lot of boxers are being lost to the professional ranks and the amateurs is not as exciting as it once was, Cheyanne believes, something she adds has been exacerbated by Covid-19.
With training complete, she is looking forward to her imminent army challenge, and any boxing decisions will have to wait until her primary military duty is done.