THE family of a late Donegal TD have travelled to Belgium to take part in a special commemoration ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Island of Ireland Peace Park.
The Island of Ireland Peace Park is a poignant memorial dedicated to the soldiers of the island of Ireland who died during the First World War.
The project, which has become a symbol of reconciliation and remembrance, was conceived by the late Paddy Harte, a Fine Gael TD from Donegal, and the late Glenn Barr, a community activist from Derry. The Island of Ireland Peace Park was recently recognised as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
Representatives of the Irish, British and Belgium governments came together on Saturday to lead a commemoration ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Island of Ireland Peace Park in Messines, Flanders, Belgium.
The 25th anniversary commemoration was attended by Minister Norma Foley TD, who represented the Irish Government, with officials from the British Government and Northern Ireland Executive Office in attendance, along with the Mayor of Messines. Members of the Harte and Barr families were also in attendance.
The Island of Ireland Peace Park was officially inaugurated on November 11, 1998, by President Mary McAleese, with Queen Elizabeth II, and King Albert of Belgium.
This historic occasion marked the first time that the Irish State officially recognised the soldiers from Ireland who lost their lives in World War I.
President Mary McAleese, on behalf of the Irish State, publicly acknowledged the “national amnesia” in remembering the soldiers of WWI from the Island of Ireland.
This ceremony also marked the first-ever public meeting between an Irish Head of State and a British Monarch.
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