2. Island of Ireland Peace Park

20 minutes

Take the N365 out of Messines and towards Ploegsteert. Within a minute the large tower of the Peace Park will be seen on your right.

Context

Peace tower and park commemorating all of Ireland’s war history.

Orientation

The attack here, on 7 June 1917, came from the west (to the rear of the site) and headed east. It was actually New Zealand troops who captured this particular area; the site was chosen due to the fact that soldiers from both the 16th (Irish) Division and the 36th (Ulster) Division fought side by side near to this ground at the other end of the ridge, in front of Wytschaete. As you look down the slope you will see Petite Douve Farm and a bunker in the grounds. Under the farm is an abandoned mine from the Messines Ridge battle.²⁹

Spiel

Following the tumultuous events in Ireland both during and after the First World War, not least of course the Easter Rebellion uprising in 1916, the commemoration of the role of Irish soldiers in the war became dangerously entwined with the politics of the island.