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Irish ‘Peace Road’ Passes a Battlefield and a Border
Written by John Kennedy, UPF-Ireland
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Carlingford, Ireland—The 2017 Peace Road event saw 15 participants bicycling to the border with Northern Ireland.
The sun shone brightly on our Peace Road event, lifting our spirits in gratitude to our Heavenly Parent for such a lovely day.
The first part of the event was held at the Boyne Valley Visitor Center in County Meath. More than 30 participants gathered at this site of a major, historic battle in 1690. A guide from the center gave an interesting talk, explaining the wider context of the Battle of the Boyne. It was not only an Irish battle between Protestants and Catholics but also a battle to decide wider European alliances of the time.
It was fitting that our group comprised many nationalities, reflecting the fact that many nationalities also engaged in that battle many years before. In the present era we want to learn from history and inspire nations not to repeat our bloody past when nations and peoples resorted to war to solve differences. Out on the battlefield site we exchanged precious words about creating true peace, culminating in time for prayer and meditation.
The second part of Peace Road was an actual bicycling event. We set out from the peaceful but busy town of Carlingford in County Louth, heading for the border with Northern Ireland. Carlingford nestles at the foot of the Cooley Mountains and by the waters of Carlingford Lough. Fifteen peace warriors cycled for the border, which is not really a border at all now.
I reflected on the meaning of borders ... soft borders, hard borders, no borders, and even invisible borders in the hearts of peoples and nations. Our group was joyfully uniting and appreciating the beauty of the landscape as we rode along.
This day was a highlight of the year for me. I look forward to participating in Peace Road 2018, while longing for lasting peace for all humankind in the not-too-distant future.
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