A “PEACE bell” designed to mark the 10th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement was unveiled in the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin by President Mary McAleese yesterday.
Some 200 invited guests involved in community groups from both north and south of the Border, who have taken part in the reconciliation process which followed the agreement, gathered at the Arás for the occasion.
“An event like this is significant because it shows work being carried out in the area of reconciliation is being recognised,” said Ronnie Hassard of the Ballymena Learn Together Programme.
The educational programme was established following the Troubles to bring children from nine schools in the area together in the spirit of peace and friendship.
“Since the programme began, we have seen young people from different backgrounds learning and working together and we hope their experience will be brought forward and that they’ll carry on what they have learned about togetherness in the future,” Mr Hassard said.Mrs McAleese said she hoped the bell would stand to “represent the story of the Ireland we are building”.
The bell, dating from the 19th century, is suspended from a central piece of oak in the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin and is supported by two oak trunks, one from Shane’s Castle Demesne, Co Antrim, the other from the Glencairn/Leopardstown Park Hospital area in south Dublin.
Mrs McAleese said the island of Ireland now had a wonderful opportunity to build a new culture of good neighbourliness and mutually respectful collaboration.
“We have no excuse for getting it wrong, for we know the mistakes of the past and we know the cruelty they inflicted,” she said.
Once unveiled, and duly rung by the President, the bell was blessed by Fr Dermot Clarke of the Church of the Holy Family, Aughrim Street, Dublin; Rabbi Zalman Lent; the Rev Andrew Orr of St Brigids, Church of Ireland, Castleknock; and Sheikh Mohammad Saad Ibrahim, representative of different faith groups in Ireland.
Mr Orr said the bell, and the event at the Arás, symbolised a lot of things that many people from both sides of the Border had wanted for a long time. “As religious leaders we are delighted to see the spirit of co-operation growing all the time.
“It shows a realisation has been made and that all our religions have a lot in common in the area of peace and reconciliation, which are at the heart of faith.”
