Over 20 local community activists and peers within the community have travelled out on a unique trip to the World War 1 battlefields in Countries Belgium and France as part of a PEACEPLUS Programme activity.

The activity was jointly organised by local groups Castleblayney Community Enterprise, Castleblayney Church of Ireland and The Blayney Cultural Network Group. The event which formed part of the PEACEPLUS Changemaker Funding Programme had as one of its core aims to highlight the futility of war and demonstrate how the learnings from World Wars should help promote a greater understanding of sustainable reconciliation.

The joint collaboration was also considered as important in helping to promote awareness of the different minority groups and cultures that exist within the community and to strengthen and foster integration.

The visit also demonstrates how those who fought on the war came from a wide spectrum of nationalities and religious beliefs with so many never to return home. While on the trip the participants will also be keen to learn how many locals who fought and died in the war are remembered.

During the three-day trip the group will visit many of the major poignant memorial sites and graveyards created after WW1.