Sunday 8th September 2019 the permanent Irish WW1 Centenary Peace Garden realised in the dried up moat of the 13th century Chateau de Péronne, known better as the Historial de la Grande Guerre and located in the Somme region of Northern France, was officially inaugurated.
Hosting and presenting the inauguration were:
- Muriel Nguyen, Préfète de la Somme
- Patricia O’Brien, Ambassadeur d’Irlande en France
- Xavier Bertrand, Président de la Région Hauts-de-France
- Laurent Somon, Président du Conseil départemental de la Somme
- Thérèse Dheygers, Maire de Péronne
- Bernard Musset, Sous-Préfet de Péronne et de Montdidier
- Séverine Mordacq, Présidente de l’Historial de la Grande Guerre Péronne & Thiepval | Somme
- Hervé François, Directeur de l’Historial de la Grande Guerre Péronne & Thiepval | Somme
- Jean-Paul Mulot, Président d’Art & jardins | Hauts-de-France
- Gilbert Fillinger, Directeur d’Art & jardins | Hauts-de-France
and Peter Donegan, Garden Designer
I relocated there for much of 2018 and the gardens construction was completed to mark the 100th anniversary of the armistice when President Macron visited in November. The story of the Jardin de la Paix to that point is far better told by Anthea McTiernan of The Irish Times.
The Jardins de la Paix gardens of Peace, are a series permanent gardens located (mainly) in the Hauts de France Somme region of Northern France. Peter Donegan was one of 14 international designers selected by a French jury to represent Ireland to design the garden in the grounds of the 13th Century castle.
A note of thanks:
Gilbert, Nathalie and Gael, Art et Jardin, Hauts de France
Hervé Francois and his team (and my second family), Historial de la Grande Guerre, Péronne
The People of Péronne and Mayor Thérèse Dheygers
The amazing work by and assistance of Irish in France Association
Ambassador O’Brien and the team at the Irish Embassy Paris, France
