As part of the 'Armagh Together' programme, Armagh Ógra Shinn Féin's unionist outreach officer Damian White joined the Messines Project trip to Belgium.The battle of Messines in 1917 saw members of the 16th (Irish) division and 36th (Ulster) division fight side by side. The men of the 16th were largely drawn from the pro-independence Irish Volunteers whilst the men of the 36th were drawn from Carson's Ulster Volunteer Force.
Whilst republicanism opposed the British war aims as inter-imperial aggression, joining the trip to recognise the deaths of many Irishmen fighting for a 'small country's freedom' is an opportunity to investigate a shared heritage with unionists. The Irish Peace Park (pictured) is a testament to this.
As Mayor of Belfast Alex Maskey also visited Messines in 2002.
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