After years of serving in mine-clearing operations around the world, a retired soldier left the country of his birth to pursue a dream life in southern France .

David O’Shea, 58, originally from Limerick, settled down near the village of Montolieu earlier this year. The village has barely 800 residents, which O’Shea says is part of the charm.

He is in the process of opening an art gallery there called The Chimera, which focuses on contemporary and traditional artists from across the world, initially sculptures. New Feature

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Montolieu is in sharp contrast to some of the places O’Shea was posted to during his 24 years in the military. He retired from the Army in 2008 after serving for over two decades in places like Lebanon, Liberia,

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