The Meath Peace Group is a voluntary group based in County Meath in the Republic of Ireland. The group was founded in April 1993 in Slane. It is not connected to any political party or religious denomination and was founded on the belief that ordinary people have a unique role to play in helping to bring about the climate in which a just and lasting peace can develop.
Aims and Objectives (as set out in 1993)
To promote peace, and the fostering of understanding, mutual respect, reconciliation and trust through dialogue between people North and South and between people from both main traditions on the island of Ireland.
To encourage and facilitate ordinary people, particularly in Co. Meath, in helping to promote peace, understanding, reconciliation, and healing, and to assist in the empowerment of young people in the long-term work of building the foundations for a lasting peace on the island.
To raise awareness and improve information, and to encourage and contribute to debate and meaningful dialogue on issues of conflict, locally and internationally.
Principal Activities
Note: due to Covid 19 and other factors, we have suspended our work for 2020-2021. A summary of our work, marking 20 years of activity, from 1993 to 2013 (published in the Meath Chronicle issue of 19 January 2013) is reproduced here.
Transcripts of public talks and seminars (1994-2015): selected summaries and transcripts are available for many of our public talks in the archives section of this website (or send inquiries to julitta1@hotmail.com). Bound volumes of sets of selected talks are available in Meath County Library, Navan and St Columban’s College, Dalgan Park, Navan. Other publications: articles, reports and interviews etc. in local media; statements and letters to editor, local and national newspapers, submissions to groups such as the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation (1995).
Schools Programmes (1995-2015)
Transition Year Peace Studies module in Meath secondary schools, including workshops, discussions, study visits and guest speakers (schools which have participated at various times over 20 years:
Ashbourne Community School, Dunshaughlin Community College, Beaufort (Navan), Eureka (Kells), Greenhills (Drogheda), Pobal Scoil Rath Cairn (Rathcarn), St Joseph’s Mercy Convent (Navan) and Trim and Maynooth secondary schools.
Networking/Outreach
Association with variety of groups North and South, including the Guild of Uriel (Co. Louth-based dialogue, reconciliation and heritage group, founded in 1995, with committee members coming from North and South of the border and from a variety of backgrounds and traditions on the island).
Heritage Study Days
Discussions and joint group visits to heritage sites, mainly in Meath and Louth, and return visits to heritage sites and centres in Northern Ireland. The most recent heritage day was on 16 May 2015 when we hosted members of the Lurgan based Community Outreach Group visiting sites in Co. Louth (Millmount Museum and Drogheda town) and Co. Meath (Bru na Boinne, Knowth passage tomb and Ledwidge Cottage Museum). On Saturday 28 March 2015 we visited Belfast as guests of the Ards Phoenix Group (who visited Meath in December 2012) and toured the Titanic Quarter, followed by a visit to Castlereagh Borough Council where we were welcomed by the Deputy Mayor Cllr Sharon Skillen
Additional Activities in Early Years
Monitoring disputed parades (1996-99), Co. Fermanagh (in conjunction with Enniskillen Together); peace vigils, rallies and books of condolences (1993-1998). preparation of reports, statements and papers; attendance at conferences etc. North and South; discussions/study groups; submissions to various bodies e.g. Forum for Peace and Reconciliation, the North Review Body on Parades.
Acknowledgments
Meath Peace Group would like to thank all who have supported and encouraged our work since 1993. Special thanks are due to all who assisted in the planning, organisation, publicity and recording of the public talks, to our speakers, guest chairpersons and participants in the talks, to the Columban Fathers for permitting use of the facilities at Dalgan Park, to the Dept. of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund for financial assistance towards the running costs of the public talks and school programmes, and to the principals, teaching staff and students of secondary schools in Meath who have taken part in our transition year peace studies programmes.
