19/09/22: The 6th Annual Glencree Peace Walk was launched by Ambassador of Finland to Ireland, H.E. Raili Lahnalampi on Sunday 18th September. Celebrating 60 years since diplomatic relations were established between Ireland and Finland in 1962, the peace walk also marks UN International Peace Day, which takes place on 21 September, calling for 24-hours of non-violence and ceasefire.
Over 80 champions of peace, including members of the diplomatic corps, the Irish Defence Forces, supporters, Board members and staff of Glencree turned out to take part in the 9km peace walk, which set out from the Glencree Centre for Peace & Reconciliation to Knocknagun in the Wicklow Mountains.
Launching the walk, Ambassador Lahnalampi said: “It is a real pleasure and honour to be a part of this Peace Walk. Working for peace has become an urgent reality also in Europe. One step at a time can make a difference. As in walking, stay the course and one day you will see results. We need civic organisations like Glencree on this island and in other countries to continue to do this work and spread the lessons of peace, as Glencree do.”
Ambassador of Finland to Ireland, H.E. Raili Lahnalampi launched the 6th Annual Glencree Peace Walk on Sunday 18th September. Also speaking at the launch were: Brigadier General Rossa Mulcahy, Assistant Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, Naoimh McNamee, CEO of Glencree, and Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Ireland, H.E. Paul Johnston.
Glencree CEO, Naoimh McNamee said: “Finland and Ireland share a long history in international peacekeeping and promoting peace and we are delighted to join in celebrating 60 years of cooperation and friendship. We are extremely grateful to Ambassador Lahnalampi and her colleagues at the Embassy of Finland to Ireland for their kind support of this year’s peace walk and their ongoing support of our peacebuilding and reconciliation work.”
Addressing the event, Brigadier General Rossa Mulcahy, Assistant Chief of Staff, Irish Defence Forces, said: “For all the great work that we Irish soldiers do on our overseas missions, we are safe in the knowledge that when we return home at the end of our missions to peace on the island of Ireland, we have organisations such as Glencree to thank for all their hard work in contributing to that stability. Your work which often goes unrecognised is, believe me, really appreciated by all of us in the Defence Forces and we are indebted to your altruistic work to build a brighter future for generations to come. The Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation is a world leader in its field, utilizing their skillsets to prevent and transform political and intercommunal conflict while building peaceful and inclusive societies. That is why the Defence Forces are proud of our partnership with Glencree and I am so excited by our bright future as will continue to work closely together.”
Ms McNamee also spoke of Glencree’s ongoing collaboration with the Irish Defence Forces and Training School and the shared opportunities to work together that lie ahead, before leading tributes to H.M. Queen Elizabeth II saying: “The Queen was a remarkable monarch and woman, whose life of duty and service provided a great constancy to many people across the world. Her dedication to furthering peace and encouraging reconciliation between our islands was evidenced powerfully during Her State Visit to Ireland in 2011, along with her husband the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. It was the clearest demonstration of their friendship to all of us who share this island, and it was also significant in deepening the relationship with our nearest neighbour.”
The Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Ireland, H.E. Paul Johnston said: “It is an honour to take part in the Glencree Peace Walk in this week of mourning for the late Queen Elizabeth II, who had worked for peace and reconciliation between these islands and building understanding in our relationships with the EU. The late Queen’s visit to Ireland in 2011 marked her commitment to peace and this is continued by King Charles III’s commitment to peace and reconciliation also.”
Following the launch, and to the sound of the Irish Defence Forces Army No.1 Quintet who played throughout the morning, the peace walkers set out from Glencree to the summit of Knocknagaun standing at 555m, where the mountains of Wales could be seen in the distance.
Joining the Peace Walk were (pic l-r from back): Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Ireland, H.E. Mr Paul Johnston; Brigadier General Rossa Mulcahy, Assistant Chief of Staff, Irish Defence Forces; Ambassador of The Netherlands to Ireland, H.E. Mr Adriaan Palm; Ambassador of Slovakia to Ireland, H.E. Mr Andrej Droba; Ambassador of Israel to Ireland, H.E. Mrs Lironne Bar Sadeh; Ambassador of Luxembourg to Ireland, H.E. Ms Florence Ensch; Ambassador of France to Ireland, H.E. Mr Vincent Guérend; Ambassador of Canada to Ireland, H.E. Ms Nancy Smyth, Ambassador of Estonia to Ireland, H.E. Ms Kairi Künka, Ambassador of Finland to Ireland, H.E. Ms Raili Lahnalampi with Glencree CEO, Ms Naoimh McNamee.
Taking just over 3 hours to complete, the peace walkers returned to the Glencree Centre campus for a Barbecue at the Armoury Cafe and traditional Finnish Cinnamon Rolls and Cereliean pastries courtesy of Ambassador Lahnalampi. The afternoon also featured live music by ‘The Harbour Ukuleles’.
Fundraising for the 6th Annual Glencree Peace Walk will continue throughout September. All donations in support of our peacebuilding and reconciliation work are welcome.
