Westmeath's links to the Irish Peace Park in Belgium
There's a significant Westmeath connection to the round tower in Belgium that features on An Post's new â¬1.35 stamp.
The tower is in the Island of Ireland Peace Park in Messines, Belgium. The stone from which it is constructed came partially from St Mary's Hospital in Mullingar, and even more significantly much of construction was done by a works team from Westmeath, assembled by stonemason John Reynolds from Walderstown.
The new stamp, designed by Ger Garland, has been issued to mark the centenary of the Battle of Messines Ridge, which was also marked on June 7 last by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Peace Park, attended by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny; by Prince William and by Belgium's Princess Astrid.
The Battle of Messines involved the British Second Army, under the command of General Sir Herbert Plumer, in an offensive on the Western Front near the village of Messines in West Flanders, Belgium on 7-14 June, 1917.
Soldiers from the 16th (Irish) and the 36th (Ulster) Divisions played an important role in one of the war's most effective large-scale operations by reclaiming the German occupied Flemish village of Wijtschate. It was believed that the success of the operation on June 7 created the prospect of reconciliation between the two political traditions in Ireland â British unionism and Irish nationalism.
In 1998, the decision was made to create the Irish Peace Park that now stands at Messines, and behind the project was âA Journey of Reconciliation Trust'.
Looking for stone for the tower, the trust was about to buy it from a quarry in Carlow when it emerged that the St Anne's wing of St Mary's Hospital was being demolished, and it was agreed with the Midland Health Board that the stone from there could be used.
St Anne's wing was built during the Great Famine as part of the County Workhouse. It later served as part of the County Infirmary, and from 1936 to 1962, it was a Tuberculosis Hospital. It was closed in 1987, and had lain idle since.
In July of 1998 the Westmeath Examiner's Kathleen Pendred reported that the demolition work was being carried out by J Fox Plant of Dysart, and the stones were being cleaned off and bagged for export to Flanders by John Reynolds, stonemason, from Walderstown, Drumraney.
It was also to Mr Reynolds that fell the responsibility for doing the stone work on the tower: âA firm from the North is doing the inside core and we have to face it,â he told the Westmeath Examiner.
It all, 200 tonnes of stone was due to be shipped to Belgium with Iarnród Ãireann and Irish Ferries having agreed to transport it free of charge.
Photographs later taken during the construction phase at Messines showed John Reynolds, Val Reynolds, Derek Reynolds, Rory Reynolds, all from Walderstown, together with Bernard Cassells, of Glasson, working on the project.
The Peace Park at Messines was officially opened on Wednesday November 11, 1998, 80 years after the carnage of WWI ceased.
President Mary McAleese performed the opening, in the presence of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and His Majesty King Albert II of Belgium.
The stamp and First Day Cover may be purchased at main post offices, at Dublin's GPO stamp shop and online at irishstamps.ie.