Conflict & Peace In Ireland

The Earls of Charleville were sent to Ireland by the Queen of England in 1554 to enforce British rule in Ireland - there followed centuries of repression - the Irish were deemed generally subhuman - not just to be ruled but eventually "to be removed" - The frequent local insurrections which followed continued untill, long after the independence of the Republic Of Ireland, the Peace Process in Northern brought peace to the whole Island of Ireland at the end of the 20th Century.

Irish people are no strangers to the complexity of conflict, the bitterness that it festers, and the seemingly impossible goal of regaining normality. It is fitting that Charleville Castle, once the seat of British Power in the Midlands of Ireland, be at the centre of actions which carry our learning from the past into future peace processes.

Long ago, Charleville Castle, in common with many conflict zones, mustered its own private army of volunteer troops, the True Blue Rangers. Today the flag of the Irish Republic flies over Charleville Castle and the many volunteers involved with the castle are dedicated to peace

True Blue Rangers (Charleville Castle Volunteers 1778)

The Tullamore True Blue Rangers which was formed on 28 October 1778, also carried a variety of police roles during the period of Grattan's Volunteers. The Tullamore True Blues were commanded by Colonel Charles William Bury. They wore a red uniform with blue facings. Their motto was 'Fortis Cadere Cedere Non Potest' - (The brave may fall but cannot yield) - a slogan reminiscent of the "death or glory" mottos of war and triumphalism.

The True Blue Rangers feature on the Quest Peace Website to serve as a link to Charleville Castle's past heritage of power and prejudice - a past now forgiven in modern ireland, part of our heritage - but a past which must inform us always of the dangers of power and conflict.

In 2009, Volunteerism at Charlevile Castle is about coming together to work for Global sustainability. peace and the betterment of life on Earth - to promote collaborative leadership, action learning, empowerment on a peaceful level - through responsibility, inspiration and co-operation -volunteers have striven to carry the Heritage of Charleville Castle forward into the 21st century as an energy for peace and Global sustainability.