Their mission was to protect the Belgian Colonists, but due to a turn in events, the Belgians along with local tribesmen and other European mercenaries attacked the Irish troops while they were attending mass.
They knew they wouldn't be heavily armed while sitting through service. The mercenaries and their help stormed the church in what is now known as The Siege of Jadotville.
Since the Irish state had been established, this was the first time the Irish Army was called to another nation to battle a dispute. It may have been the lack of experience, the fact that they were lightly armed and failing, but during a time of panic, the Irish radioed headquarters stating that, "We will hold out until our last bullet is spent. Could do with some whiskey"
Unfortunately, those remaining bullets did not help them. After five days of battle, the Irish surrendered to the Katangans and were held captive for an entire month. By 1963, Katanga was defeated with the help of UN and its troops.
