Went up today to see the completed Peace Wall and Park at new grave yard for the first time - A truly remarkable and moving memorial and great tribute to those that strived so hard to see it come to fruition. Amongst other things, it is a real revelation and education to see some of the names and armies listed and to contemplate the places that Mayo people got to (and died) from The Somme to Burma to Vietnam to Cordoba, serving the armies and navies and air forces of other nations.

Tuesday should be considered a truly proud day for Castlebar when Mayomen as veterans of the armies of many different countries join with President McAleese for the opening cermony of the park - It is however unfortunate that even in this most symbolic of events there are apparently emerging some petty diplomatic banalities where some seem to be afraid of the symbolism or imagery that the assembly of former British soldiers in the former military barracks would have so much so that these veterans are apparently being obliged to assemble in car park of Davitt College instead.

On a final point, it occured to me only after leaving the peace park, that I'd forgotten to check to see does the name of Ballinrobe's William Joyce appear on the wall - Admittedly he may have picked the wrong side with which throw in his lot but he was, nonetheless, a victim of the WWII after his, some would say, sham conviction and execution for treason for his "Germany Calling" broadcasts as Lord Haw Haw.