TWO Irish soldiers attended an interdenominational service in Messines, Belgium, yesterday where a peace park and round tower are to be built to commemorate the 50,000 Irishmen from both sides of the Border who died in the first World War. The soldiers were Sgt Paul Haughton (34) from Walkinstown, Dublin, and Trooper Paul Kellet (28) from The Donahies, Dublin.
The service was also attended by the former Fine Gael TD from Donegal, Mr Paddy Harte, and Mr Glen Barr, a former spokesman for the Ulster Defence Association. They are the joint executive chairmen of A Journey of Reconciliation, an organisation set up to organise the memorial. The Government is contributing £150,000 towards the project which the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has said will serve as a powerful symbol of reconciliation.