THE FIRST PEACE PITCH IN THE LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIERSHIP DIVISION
DERRY CITY FC v CORK CITY FC
7.45pm KO
Friday 4th April
On behalf of DCFC The Peace Pitch Peace Declaration Certificate was signed by life-long Candy Stripes supporters and catalysts for the first peace pitch in the League of Ireland Premiership Division, Eamonn Baker ( Doctor of Laws (LLD) from Ulster University) and Richard Moore (Children in Crossfire). Further signatories, Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr, (Mayor of Derry City & Strabane Council), Denver Charles, (Teacher, Magherafelt High School) and Ernie Brennan, CEO, Children’s Football Alliance.
Ernie Brennan (left) and Eamonn Baker (right)
Ernie Brennan, CEO of the Children’s Football Alliance added: “The Peace Field Project chimes with the City of human rights. It is all about the essence of play. All children play without prejudice. When Allied and German soldiers stood up to shake hands, exchange gifts and play games on Christmas Day, 1914, the humanitarian act served to remind mankind that childhood is a time we all revert too, for love, peace and happiness.”
The Peace Field Project Plaque was presented to Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr, Mayor of Derry City & Strabane Council (centre) by Rithie McRory, Lifehack (left), Derry and Brian Caskey (2nd right), Limestone United, Belfast with Ernie Brennan (right), CFA.
The plaque will be displayed in the stadium, and a duplicate will be erected at the Peace Village in Flanders, Belgium, alongside 78 other Peace Field Plaques from six different continents worldwide.
Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr, attended the presentation and praised Life Hack.
“I am delighted and proud that the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium has received this international designation which pairs us with one of the most famous sports fields in world history,” she said.
“It is just recognition for the key work The Life Hack Project do to improve the quality of life and employment prospects of our young people. “It also serves as a timely reminder of the reconciliatory impact sport can have by bringing people together through a shared passion for play.”
The half-time small-sided game between Derry City FC u19s Womens v Hackney Celts u19s Womens, London played their first ever peace game on their peace pitch.
The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium has become the first ground in the League of Ireland to receive an international designation celebrating peace and reconciliation through football.
The Peace Field initiative will see the Lone Moor Road stadium twinned with Flanders Peace Field in Mesen, Belgium – the site of the First World War Christmas Truces of 1914 when German, British and Allied soldiers played games of football during a break in fighting.
The Brandywell has received the designation in recognition of The Life Hack Project in the Rath Mor Centre which aims to support young people to build and develop life skills that foster good relations, build confidence and relations and make them more employable.
A plaque to commemorate the twinning, stating that all games on the pitch will be played in the spirit of the 1914 Christmas truces, was presented to representatives from The Life Hack Project, Derry City and Strabane District Council and Derry City Football Club before the weekend’s League of Ireland Premier Division home game against Cork City.
The Derry City legends Felix Healy (left) and Richard Moore (centre) with the CFA’s Ernie Brennan.
