Island of Ireland Peace Park
Encyclopedia
The Island of Ireland Peace Park and its surrounding park , also called the Irish Peace Park or Irish Peace Tower in Messines
, near Ypres
in Flanders
, Belgium
, is a war memorial
to the soldiers of the island of Ireland
who died, were wounded or are missing from World War I
, during Ireland's involvement
in the conflict. The tower memorial is close to the site of the June 1917 battle for the Messines Ridge
and was chosen because that battle witnessed one of the few where Irishmen, regardless of religion, fought side by side against a common enemy.
in 1916 and the partition of Ireland under the Anglo-Irish Treaty
in 1922 and the Irish Civil War
that followed it, little was done in the Republic of Ireland
to commemorate the Irish dead from the Great War or World War II. Those countries who were engaged in the Great War all preserve the memory of their fallen soldiers with national monuments in the Western Front area. This led to some ill-feeling in the already crowded emotions of the conflict on the island, and perhaps was highlighted when Northern Ireland
's community's Ulster Tower Thiepval
in France
was one of the first memorials erected.
This Tower memorial, however, serves not to "redress the balance" but rather to recall the sacrifices of those from the island of Ireland from all political and religious traditions who fought and died in the war. It also serves as a symbol of modern-day reconciliation. The Tower houses bronze cubicles containing record books listing the known dead, which are publicly accessible copies of the originals belonging to the National War Memorial, Islandbridge, Dublin.
The project was initiated by A Journey of Reconciliation Trust, a broad-based cross-border Irish organisation which hopes to bring together people of diverse beliefs. The Trust comprises representatives of the main churches in Ireland and professional political and representatives and community leaders from both parts of Ireland under the leadership of Paddy Harte
and Glenn Barr
.
The building of the tower was marked by conflict over who would pay what towards the costs of construction. Construction costs were finally met by contributions from the British and Irish governments and from commercial sponsors but some problems with drainage, tree growth and surfacing in the park around the tower existed for the first few years. The park was subsequently restructured to its present design under the auspices of the Dublin City Council
in 2004.
The 110 feet (33.5 m) tower is in the traditional design of an Irish round tower
and is partially built with stone from a former British Army barracks in Tipperary
, the remainder of the stone from a work-house outside Mullingar
, County Westmeath.
The design has a unique aspect that allows the sun to light the interior only on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the anniversary of the armistice that ended the war and the time for the minute's silence on Remembrance Day.
A commemorative ceremony is held yearly in the park on that date, in conjunction with similar ceremonies at the nearby multi-national Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.
of Ireland, HM Queen Elizabeth II
of the United Kingdom and King Albert II
of Belgium.
In her speech, President McAleese said:
Speaking at the official re-opening of the newly structured park on 7 June 2004, the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern
commented that honouring the spirit of all Irish people killed in the First World War can teach how to advance the Northern Ireland
peace process, adding:
Peace Pledge
Irish, English, Flemish and French, commemorating the dedication and opening and dedication of the park on 11 November 1998.
The first stone was placed on the 7th of June 2005 by the First Minister of Ireland Bertie Ahern
in the presence of the Mayor of Messines, Sandy Evrard and the Flemish Minister of Administrative Affairs, Foreign Policy, Media and Tourism, Geert Bourgeois.
Only one year later the Peace Village was officially opened. The inauguration took place on the 7th of June 2006 by the Irish Minister of Foreig Affairs, Dermot Ahern
, the British Minister of Northern Ireland, David Hanson
, the Flemish Minister of Administrative Affairs, Foreign Policy, Media and Tourism, Geert Bourgeois and Sandy Evrard, the Mayor of Messines.
Mesen
Mesen is a city located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality only comprises the town of Mesen proper. On January 1, 2006, Mesen had a total population of 988. The total area is 3.58 km² which gives a population density of 276 inhabitants per km².Mesen is the smallest city in...
, near Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, is a war memorial
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
to the soldiers of the island of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
who died, were wounded or are missing from World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, during Ireland's involvement
Ireland and World War I
During World War I , Ireland was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, which entered the war in August 1914 as one of the Entente Powers, along with France and Russia, when it declared war to halt the military expansion of the Central Powers, consisting of the German Empire, the...
in the conflict. The tower memorial is close to the site of the June 1917 battle for the Messines Ridge
Battle of Messines
The Battle of Messines was a battle of the Western front of the First World War. It began on 7 June 1917 when the British Second Army under the command of General Herbert Plumer launched an offensive near the village of Mesen in West Flanders, Belgium...
and was chosen because that battle witnessed one of the few where Irishmen, regardless of religion, fought side by side against a common enemy.
Development
Because of the events of the Easter RebellionEaster Rising
The Easter Rising was an insurrection staged in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans with the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic at a time when the British Empire was heavily engaged in the First World War...
in 1916 and the partition of Ireland under the Anglo-Irish Treaty
Anglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
in 1922 and the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
that followed it, little was done in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
to commemorate the Irish dead from the Great War or World War II. Those countries who were engaged in the Great War all preserve the memory of their fallen soldiers with national monuments in the Western Front area. This led to some ill-feeling in the already crowded emotions of the conflict on the island, and perhaps was highlighted when Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
's community's Ulster Tower Thiepval
Ulster Tower Thiepval
The Ulster Tower is a memorial to the men of the 36th Division. The memorial was officially opened on November 19, 1921 and is a very close copy of Helen's Tower which stands in the grounds of the Clandeboye Estate, near Bangor, County Down in Northern Ireland...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
was one of the first memorials erected.
This Tower memorial, however, serves not to "redress the balance" but rather to recall the sacrifices of those from the island of Ireland from all political and religious traditions who fought and died in the war. It also serves as a symbol of modern-day reconciliation. The Tower houses bronze cubicles containing record books listing the known dead, which are publicly accessible copies of the originals belonging to the National War Memorial, Islandbridge, Dublin.
The project was initiated by A Journey of Reconciliation Trust, a broad-based cross-border Irish organisation which hopes to bring together people of diverse beliefs. The Trust comprises representatives of the main churches in Ireland and professional political and representatives and community leaders from both parts of Ireland under the leadership of Paddy Harte
Paddy Harte
Paddy Harte, Honorary OBE, Honorary LLD is a retired Irish Fine Gael party politician who served for 36 years as Teachta Dála for Donegal North East.-Political career:...
and Glenn Barr
Glenn Barr
Glenn Barr, OBE , is a former politician from Derry, Northern Ireland who was an advocate of Ulster nationalism. For a time during the 1970s he straddled both Unionism and Loyalism due to simultaneously holding important positions in the Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party and the Ulster Defence...
.
The building of the tower was marked by conflict over who would pay what towards the costs of construction. Construction costs were finally met by contributions from the British and Irish governments and from commercial sponsors but some problems with drainage, tree growth and surfacing in the park around the tower existed for the first few years. The park was subsequently restructured to its present design under the auspices of the Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council is the local authority for the city of Dublin in Ireland. It has 52 members and is the largest local authority in Ireland. Until 2001, it was known as Dublin Corporation.-Legal status:...
in 2004.
Design
Irish round tower
Irish round towers , Cloigthithe – literally "bell house") are early medieval stone towers of a type found mainly in Ireland, with three in Scotland and one on the Isle of Man...
and is partially built with stone from a former British Army barracks in Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
, the remainder of the stone from a work-house outside Mullingar
Mullingar
Mullingar is the county town of County Westmeath in Ireland. The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act of 1542, proclaimed Westmeath a county, separating it from Meath. Mullingar became the administrative centre for County Westmeath...
, County Westmeath.
The design has a unique aspect that allows the sun to light the interior only on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the anniversary of the armistice that ended the war and the time for the minute's silence on Remembrance Day.
A commemorative ceremony is held yearly in the park on that date, in conjunction with similar ceremonies at the nearby multi-national Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.
Unveiling
The tower was unveiled after an 11 am service on 11 November 1998 by President Mary McAleeseMary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
of Ireland, HM Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
of the United Kingdom and King Albert II
Albert II of Belgium
Albert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
of Belgium.
In her speech, President McAleese said:
Speaking at the official re-opening of the newly structured park on 7 June 2004, the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern
Dermot Ahern
Dermot Christopher Ahern is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Louth constituency from 1987 to 2011...
commented that honouring the spirit of all Irish people killed in the First World War can teach how to advance the Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
peace process, adding:
Peace Pledge
A bronze tablet on a granite pillar positioned in the centre circle of the park bears the following inscription, entitled:The park
- Inside the entrance gate on the left are four granite pillars with plaques in four languages,
Irish, English, Flemish and French, commemorating the dedication and opening and dedication of the park on 11 November 1998.
- The park surrounding the round tower contains thirteen smaller stone structures:
- There are three pillars giving the killed, wounded and missing of each division
- *36th (Ulster) Division – 32,186
- *10th (Irish) Division – 9,363
- *16th (Irish) Division – 28,398
- An upright tablet listing the counties of Ireland, the names flowing together to suggest the unity of death
- A bronze tablet depicting a plan of the battle area
- Nine stone tablets with prose, poems and letters from Irish servicemen
Messines Peace Village
The completion of the Peace Park ultimately led to the development and construction of the Messines Peace Village, an international rural hostel equipped for seminars and meetings, ideal for associations, companies, youth and school groups.The first stone was placed on the 7th of June 2005 by the First Minister of Ireland Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
in the presence of the Mayor of Messines, Sandy Evrard and the Flemish Minister of Administrative Affairs, Foreign Policy, Media and Tourism, Geert Bourgeois.
Only one year later the Peace Village was officially opened. The inauguration took place on the 7th of June 2006 by the Irish Minister of Foreig Affairs, Dermot Ahern
Dermot Ahern
Dermot Christopher Ahern is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Louth constituency from 1987 to 2011...
, the British Minister of Northern Ireland, David Hanson
David Hanson (politician)
David George Hanson is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Delyn since 1992. He was the Minister of State for Security, Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Policing from 2009 to 2010...
, the Flemish Minister of Administrative Affairs, Foreign Policy, Media and Tourism, Geert Bourgeois and Sandy Evrard, the Mayor of Messines.
See also
- Irish National War Memorial GardensIrish National War Memorial GardensThe Irish National War Memorial Gardens is an Irish war memorial in Islandbridge, Dublin dedicated "to the memory of the 49,400 Irish soldiers who gave their lives in the Great War, 1914–1918", out of over 300,000 Irishmen who served in all armies....
, Dublin, Ireland - Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium
- Ulster Tower MemorialUlster Tower ThiepvalThe Ulster Tower is a memorial to the men of the 36th Division. The memorial was officially opened on November 19, 1921 and is a very close copy of Helen's Tower which stands in the grounds of the Clandeboye Estate, near Bangor, County Down in Northern Ireland...
, Thiepval, France.
External links
- World War One: Carte de Route: Guide of the Island of Ireland Peace Park
- Homepage of the Connaught Ranger's Association
- Homepage of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association
- Homepage of the Royal Innniskilling Fusiliers Association
- Homepage of the Royal Munster Fusilier's Association
- Homepage of the Bandon War Memorial Committee
- Homepage of the Waterford Museum: WWI and Ireland
- Department of the Taoiseach: Irish Soldiers in the First World War
- The Military Heritage of Ireland Trust
- Combined Irish Regiments Association
Further reading
- Bryan Cooper (1918): The 10th (Irish) Division in Gallipoli Irish Academic Press (1993), (2003) ISBN 0-7165-2517-8.
- Cyril Falls: History of the 36th (Ulster) Division. Constable & Robinson (1996) ISBN 0-09-476630-4.
- Desmond & Jean Bowen: Heroic Option: The Irish in the British Army. Pen & Sword Books (2005) ISBN 1-84415-152-2.
- Keith Jeffery: Ireland and the Great War Cambridge University Press, (November 2000) ISBN 0-521-77323-7.
- Terence Denman: Ireland's unknown Soldiers: The 16th (Irish) Division in the Great War Irish Academic Press (1992), (2003) ISBN 0-7165-2495-3.
- Timothy Bowman: Irish Regiments in the Great War Manchester University Press (2003), ISBN 0-7190-6285-3.
- David Murphy: Irish Regiments in the World Wars, OSprey Publishing (2007), ISBN 978-1-84603-015-4
- David Murphy: The Irish Brigades, 1685-2006, A gazatteer of Irish Military Service past and present, Four Courts Press (2007)
The Military Heritage of Ireland Trust. ISBN 978-1-84682-080-9 - Stephen Walker: Forgotten Soldiers; The Irishmen shot at dawn Gill & Nacmillan (2007), ISBN 978-07171-4182-1
- John Horne ed.: Our War 'Ireland and the Great War: The Thomas DavisThomas Davis-Politicians:*Thomas Davis , Irish-American member of United States House of Representatives*Thomas Aspinwall Davis , American Mayor of Boston in 1845*Thomas Beall Davis , U.S. Representative from West Virginia...
Lectures, The Royal Irish AcademyRoyal Irish AcademyThe Royal Irish Academy , based in Dublin, is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is one of Ireland's premier learned societies and cultural institutions and currently has around 420 Members, elected in...
, Dublin (2008) ISBN 978-1-904890-50-8