“Irish in Britain ends a 100 year silence”
Irish in Britain was honoured this week to have a wreath laid on our behalf at the island of Ireland Peace Park as part of the commemoration organised by the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly. Participants included politicians from Britain and Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The wreath was laid on Monday the 20th of October at 12 noon by Chris Ruane MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Irish in Britain at the “Island of Ireland Peace Park” on Messines Ridge, Flanders in honour of the Irish who died during the First World War.
BIPA commemoration Cross–party support for Commemoration (Photo: Joyce Watson AM) (left to right: Frank Feighan TD (co–chair BIPA); Chris Ruane MP (Chair APPG Irish in Britain); Lawrence Robertson (co–chair BIPA); Danny Kinahan MLA, Judith Cochrane MLA. Members of Fine Gael, Labour Party, Conservative Party, Ulster Unionist Party, Alliance Party
The wreath read:
“Reflecting on a legacy of Irish grief
Unionist and Nationalist; Catholic and Protestant;
from Ireland, Britain and throughout the world.
A promise that former adversaries can become partners in peace”
Irish in Britain, 20 October, 2014
This was the first time that a wreath has been laid by Irish in Britain to commemorate the Irish who lost their lives in the war. “I am honoured to be invited by Irish in Britain to lay this wreath today on behalf of our community as a mark of respect for the memory of all those who lost their lives in this conflict. For those of us living today in Britain and Ireland; these graves are a part of our shared history –as they are for British and Irish throughout the world” Mr Ruane remarked. Jennie McShannon, CEO of Irish in Britain invited him to lay the wreath on behalf of Irish in Britain to mark on of the most significant moments of this the decade of centenaries. She said that “Irish in Britain are proud to be able to show leadership from within our community in ending the silence that has persisted for the last century. It is only right that we mark the immense loss of life of Irish men from all corners of the island of Ireland and all traditions who fought alongside one another”.
“The visit to lay wreaths on battlefield sites took place during a plenary of the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Ashford Kent, 19–21 October. In his oration, Chris Ruane MP reflected: “We know that, too often, anniversaries can be exploited to create further division. Irish in Britain welcome the decision of British and Irish Governments to embark upon a joint enterprise to mark a ‘decade of centenaries’”. He concluded: “What we have seen today reminds us of the tragedy of war – this on a scale never before imagined. The War created a legacy of grief – and the loss hung over families for a generation.
After laying the wreath Chris Ruane MP commenting on the symbolic laying of the wreath that he had just completed on behalf of Irish in Britain, said “Yes, there are lessons to be learned. But there is no single interpretation. There is no single one truth. We are learning that commemoration need not be either celebratory or apologetic. So many former adversaries are now partners in peace. We reflect upon the impact of war to enable a new generation to rise above it and create together a better future”.
BIPA commemoration Chris Ruane MP with Irish in Britain wreath in front of the Irish Round Tower (Photo: Joyce Watson AM)
