Michael Feeney, MBE
Encyclopedia
Michael Feeney, MBE
, was the founder of the Mayo Peace Park. A dual citizen of Ireland
and the UK, he was awarded the MBE due to his services in promoting UK-Ireland
relations.
, County Mayo
, Michael Feeney is the Chairman and Founder of The Mayo
Peace Park and Garden of Rememembrance
. Educated at St Patrick's school in Castlebar up to the age of 14, Feeney originally worked for the local Bacon Company before moving to the Health Service Executive, where he worked for 26 yeears.
relations by Queen Elizabeth at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace
in the Queen's New Year Honours List in 2010.
is a project to document natives of County Mayo who lost their lives in both World Wars. It was officially opened by Mary McAleese
, the President of Ireland
in October 2008. The annual Remembrance Day
Services to commemorate Mayo’s
World War
dead began in 1999, when Feeney organised an official Remembrance mass in the Church of the Holy Rosary in Castlebar following research which showed that a significant number of County Mayo soldiers were killed in action in World War I
and World War II
.
Michael's grandfather, Patrick Feeney, of the 1st Battalion Connaught Rangers was killed in action on Thursday 22 July 1915 near Rue-Tilleroy France the day the Connaught Rangers were finally relieved after spending 16 days in the front line. Patrick Feeney was a professional soldier and served in the South Africa Campaign He had left the Army
in 1911. At the outbreak of World War I in 1914 he was mobilised and returned to the Colours
to serve with the Connaught Rangers once more. He was buried in the Royal Irish Graveyard in Laventie
Northern France
.
Mayo County Council group leader Al McDonnell. McDonnell specifically referred to the MBE accepted by Feeney and the laying of a plaque for a man who died in Iraq.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, was the founder of the Mayo Peace Park. A dual citizen 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...
and the UK, he was awarded the MBE due to his services in promoting UK-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...
relations.
Early life
Michael Feeney was born in CastlebarCastlebar
Castlebar is the county town of, and at the centre of, County Mayo in Ireland. It is Mayo's largest town by population. The town's population exploded in the late 1990s, increasing by one-third in just six years, though this massive growth has slowed down greatly in recent years...
, County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, Michael Feeney is the Chairman and Founder of The Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
Peace Park and Garden of Rememembrance
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
. Educated at St Patrick's school in Castlebar up to the age of 14, Feeney originally worked for the local Bacon Company before moving to the Health Service Executive, where he worked for 26 yeears.
Mayo League
Feeney has supported the development of football in Mayo and was Secretary of the Mayo League until 1986, when he helped to establish the opening of the Milebush Park facility.MBE
Feeney was awarded the MBE due to his services in promoting UK-IrelandIreland
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...
relations by Queen Elizabeth at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
in the Queen's New Year Honours List in 2010.
Peace Park
The County Mayo Peace Park and Garden of RememembranceCounty Mayo Peace Park and Garden of Rememembrance
The County Mayo Peace Park and Garden of Rememembrance is a project to document natives of County Mayo who lost their lives in both World Wars.-History:...
is a project to document natives of County Mayo who lost their lives in both World Wars. It was officially opened by Mary McAleese
Mary 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...
, the President of Ireland
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
in October 2008. The annual Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
Services to commemorate Mayo’s
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
World War
World war
A world war is a war affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations. World wars span multiple countries on multiple continents, with battles fought in multiple theaters....
dead began in 1999, when Feeney organised an official Remembrance mass in the Church of the Holy Rosary in Castlebar following research which showed that a significant number of County Mayo soldiers were killed in action in 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...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Michael's grandfather, Patrick Feeney, of the 1st Battalion Connaught Rangers was killed in action on Thursday 22 July 1915 near Rue-Tilleroy France the day the Connaught Rangers were finally relieved after spending 16 days in the front line. Patrick Feeney was a professional soldier and served in the South Africa Campaign He had left the Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
in 1911. At the outbreak of World War I in 1914 he was mobilised and returned to the Colours
Colours, standards and guidons
In military organizations, the practice of carrying colours, standards or Guidons, both to act as a rallying point for troops and to mark the location of the commander, is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt some 5,000 years ago...
to serve with the Connaught Rangers once more. He was buried in the Royal Irish Graveyard in Laventie
Laventie
Laventie is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A small farming and light industrial town, situated some northeast of Béthune and west of Lille, at the junction of the D166, D173 and D174 roads. Famous for its...
Northern 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...
.
Criticism and relationship with the British Army
The Peace Park and Michael Feeney's acceptance of an MBE has caused controversy. The Peace Park was described as "a monument to the British" by Fianna FáilFianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
Mayo County Council group leader Al McDonnell. McDonnell specifically referred to the MBE accepted by Feeney and the laying of a plaque for a man who died in Iraq.