President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar have attended a special ceremony at Dublin Castle to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Ireland's involvement in United Nation peacekeeping missions.

A roll of honour, remembering the 87 Defence Forces personnel and one garda, who died on overseas service, was read at the ceremony.

Ireland’s role in UN peacekeeping began with the deployment of a small army contingent to Lebanon in 1958.

Since then there have been over 70,000 tours of duty by Irish Defence Forces personnel across the world, from Eastern Europe to the Middle East and Africa.

After the President laid a wreath, a minute's silence was observed.

The President also addressed those attending the ceremony and met veterans, including Colonel John Ryan, an army officer who served with the first group sent to Lebanon in 1958.