County Mayo Peace Park and Garden of Remembrance

The County Mayo Peace Park and Garden of Remembrance is a project to document people from County Mayo who lost their lives in both World Wars.[1] The park is located in Castlebar, County Mayo.

History

The park was conceived by Michael Feeney.[2] It was officially opened by Mary McAleese, the President of Ireland in October 2008.[1] The annual Remembrance Day Services to commemorate the World War deceased began in 1999, when Feeney organised an official Remembrance mass in the Church of the Holy Rosary in Castlebar following research which showed that a significant number of County Mayo soldiers were killed in action in World War I and World War II.

USA Memorial

The park also contains a plaque commemorating Mayo natives that fought for the United States, including those that fought in the Korean War and Vietnam War.[3]

Criticism

The peace park has faced criticism due to the fact that it only commemorates those who fought for the British Army and not those who died in the Irish War of Independence and the Easter Rising. A commemoration to Cornelius Coughlan, a Victoria Cross recipient for services during the Indian Mutiny, was described as a "war crime commemoration" by Dr Pat Muldowney, a historian and lecturer at the University of Ulster.[4] The Peace Park was described as "a monument to the British" by Fianna Fáil Mayo County Council group leader Al McDonnell. McDonnell further stated that "My suspicious were confirmed when they conferred an MBE on one of the park's founder members. The British saw the park as an endorsement of their colonial and military policies." [5] [6]

References
  1. "Irish named in Queen's Birthday Honours List". Irish Post. June 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2010. Mr Feeney was made an MBE by the Queen in recognition of his service to Ireland-Britain relations through his Mayo Peace Park — Garden of Remembrance project. The park — officially unveiled by President Mary McAleese in October 2008 — commemorates Mayo’s fallen soldiers who served in wars and conflicts over the centuries.
  2. Ryan, Áine (4 January 2010). "Mayo Peace Park founder honoured by Queen". The Mayo News. Retrieved 29 October 2010. Founder of the County Mayo Peace Park in Castlebar, Mr Michael Feeney was last week awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to UK-Ireland relations.
  3. "War Memorial U.S.A. Memorial in Castlebar, Mayo Peace Park, Mayo". www.irishwarmemorials.ie. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  4. Dr.Pat Muldowney should get his facts right before making criticism the Park also commemorates USA servicemen, Irish Defence Force members who were killed in Lebanon and also Garda Sicohana. "Does Mayo Peace Park glorify "war criminals" as well as war heroes?". The Connaught Telegraph. 8 October 2008.
  5. "Mayo War Games" (PDF). The Phoenix. 22 October 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  6. "Al McDonnell opposes Queens visit". Connaught Telegraph. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
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