Delighted to be part of delegation to honour WW1 Irish and British soldiers

Photo taken at the site where soldiers on both sides of the conflict laid down their arms and played a game of football on Christmas Day.

As a member of the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly, I visited Flanders on Tuesday to commemorate sacrifices made in Flanders during the  First World War.  It was exactly 100 years ago to the day of the first battle of Ypres that we visited the area. 'I am especially honoured to have participated in this trip to commemorate the sacrifices made during the First World War.  We visited the grave of Major Willie Redmond and we had the opportunity to see the Island of Ireland Peace Park and Tower.  We also visited the war memorial, Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing and it was a very poignant and moving experience.  Our visit to Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest cemetery of Commonwealth soldiers graves' of any war, was a staggering reminder of the loss of life.  
'During the 49th Plenary Session of the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly, we also discussed providing exemptions to Irish hauliers on Northern Ireland roads, particularly the A5 and we are calling on the Minister for Transport in the UK to consider these exemptions.  We have also called on governments across the British and Irish jurisdictions to consider a statutory obligation on all local authorities to coordinate traveller site provision.'