Monaghan Peace Campus Celebrates Community Open Day on World Peace Day 21st September 2024

The Community Open Day, set against the backdrop of World Peace Day, will also celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of the Country Museum and feature a host of community activities accessible to all.  Committed to the cause of peace, a symbolic midday bell ringing will take place to mark the auspicious occasion. 

The Peace Campus is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to promoting peace through education, cultural exchange, and community engagement. It will serve as a hub for peacebuilding activities, bringing together individuals, organizations, and communities to collaborate on initiatives that contribute to a more harmonious and inclusive society. Services provided include the town library and County Museum, hire spaces and programmes focused on conflict resolution and peace studies. 

“We are thrilled to open the Monaghan Peace Campus on such a significant day,” said Robert Burns, Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council. “The Peace Campus is a testament to our community’s unwavering dedication to peace and reconciliation. It will be a place where people from all walks of life can come together to learn, share, and grow in their understanding of what it means to live in peace.”

The Peace Campus was developed to address the needs that still exist in our communities today such as issues of segregation, fears to engage and an unwillingness to express identity.  This facility allows all communities to come together to engage in a safe setting.  To dispel myths and allow relationships to be built which will not only benefit individuals but also the wider community.

This project, in addition to the development of much needed community space in a neutral setting, also includes youth services, barista bar café area, dedicated community hire spaces and a Performance stage.  The overall aim is to engage with all communities especially where there is a legacy of difference and segregation in relation to attitudes and beliefs.  

Deirdriu McQuaid Head of Cultural Services stated, “The Monaghan Peace Campus aims to be a beacon of hope and a catalyst for positive change, not only in Ireland but around the world. Through its programmes and events, the campus will empower individuals and communities to engage in dialogue, understand different perspectives, and work towards a future where peace prevails.”

The public are invited to join in the 50^th Anniversary celebrations of the Museum and participate in the Open Day’s activities from 10.00am to 5.00pm, which are free to all. Hire spaces and rooms are also available for booking. 

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For more information about the Monaghan Peace Campus, Hire Spaces and the Museum’s 50^th Anniversary celebration events, please visit: www.monaghan.ie.

Culture and Development Office
T: +353 (0) 47 30046/47
E: peacecampus@monaghancoco.ie

This project has been supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Editor’s Note:
The PEACE IV Programme is an EU funded Programme designed to support peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the border region.   It is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).  

PEACE IV Programme 

• The Special EU Programmes Body is a North/South Implementation Body sponsored by the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in Ireland.
•  It is responsible for managing two EU Structural Funds Programmes, PEACE IV and INTERREG VA which are designed to enhance cross-border co-operation, promote reconciliation and create a more peaceful and prosperous society.
• The Programmes operate within a clearly defined area including Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and in the case of INTERREG VA, Western Scotland.
• The PEACE IV Programme has a value of €270 million and aims to promote peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland.
• For more information on the SEUPB please visit www.seupb.eu