World's Largest Peace Relay Visits Newry

World's Largest Peace Relay Visits Newry

On Friday 18 March 2016, Deputy Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick hosted a reception for members from the world's largest Peace Relay event. 

Since its founding by humanitarian Sri Chinmoy in 1987, the Peace Run has passed through over 120 countries. Every year, over one million people participate in the Run, passing along the torch from hand to hand and adding their hopes for a better world.

The Irish section of the 2016 Run will begin in Rosslare, Co. Wexford on 16 March at 6pm when the team will arrive from Wales and arrive in Newry on the 18 March and the team will continue on to Belfast the following day.

The runners carry a flaming torch as a symbol of peace, passing it from hand to hand and heart to heart throughout of Europe. The runners are visiting school children, community groups, dignitaries and athletes, sharing with them the ideals of encouragement, teamwork and peace in our day-to-day lives. The Runners will travel on a 24,000 km journey through 47 European countries to finish in Rome on the 8 October.

The Peace Run has one simple goal, to encourage goodwill among peoples of all nations.  It is a non-profit event financed entirely by volunteers, the runners themselves and supported by local businesses. Carl Lewis, spokesman for the Run, said, "By carrying the Torch, millions of citizens are taking a step for Harmony and bridging the cultural and social boundaries that separate nation from nation."

Councillor Fitzpatrick said, “I am delighted to host the reception for the Peace Run and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the participants every success in their endeavours.”

To find out more about the Peace Run and the progress of the running teams, visit ‘Live from the Road’ at http://www.peacerun.org/ie/