Today we celebrated the Launch of the 2017 European Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run in Galway, Ireland. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Peace Run. We comence the celebration with a ceremonial walk from the Spanish Arch to Eyre Square in Galway.
School Children from St. Patrick's national school are ready for the march with their Peace Run banner.
The pupils from Scoil Chroi Iosa hold up their colourful art work with peace doves.
Enthusiasm all round!
Our Croatian runner Gianluca joins the Peace Run for the first time.
And the March up Quay street commences!
Claddagh national school are out in full force and their renowned marching band sets the rythm and music for the march.
Playing the Irish tin whistle.
The Claddagh school band has every instrument from snare drums to accordians, guitars to glockenspiels.
The pupils from Scoil Chroi Losa hang their artwork upon arrival at the stage in Eyre square.
Jason Craughwell from the Galway Sports Partnership commences the ceremony by welcoming the City Mayor and all the participants.
Mayor of Galway City Cllr. Noel Larkin addreses the audience and speaks about the renowned culture of friendliness and rich diversity and that the city embodies.
We are very fortunate to have three of Glaways finest muscians perform. Chis Kelly, director of 'Trad on the Prom' on Guitar, Yvonne Fahy multi instrumentalist of the world renowned Fahy family plays the northumbrian pipes and Mairin from the newly formed 'back west' on the Fiddle.
Yvonne Fahy is presented with a certificate of appriciation. Yvonne composed a very special piece of music which is performed for the very first time at the Peace Run Ceremony. Everyone thoroughly enjoys the remarkable piece of music which will no doubt become a great Celtic anthem.
Claddagh school band perform a traditional tune for us and their cheerleaders march to the beat.
Next we have poetry by Nathan, Awab and Rosilita from St. Patricks national school and Oisin and Scott from Scoil Chroi Iosa. Nathan and Scott composed two wonderful poems for the occasion. Definitely great poets in the making.
Our European Team captain Devashishu Torpy speaks about the history of the Peace Run.
Mayor Larkin launches the 2017 European Peace Run by the lighting the Peace torch.
We take a moment of silence to reflect on the significance of the moment.
And were off! Scott leads the runners on a lap of Eyre Square.
There is smiles and laughter all round as we gather for a group photo.
We present a certificate of a appriciation to Galway City Council.
We take the first steps of the 5000km to Minsk, Bellarus.
A big thank you to Garda Marcus and the local Gardai for leading us out of Galway.
We are blessed with sunshine. Luck of the Irish!
Checking the GPS!
We make new friends along the road.
Even the cattle want to know whats going on.
Palash, our peace runner all the way from New York, enjoys a run through the Irish countryside.
And spring is well under way.
Having reached our stopping point for the night at Tullamore we are treated to an exquisite meal at Siroccos Italian restaurant.
A big thank you to Paula and her team, Fiona and Liona for looking after us and making sure we were very well fed.
Special thanks also to Jury's Hotel in Galway for sponsoring accommodation for the girls team. Here we have Duty Manager Alan Larkin who took very good care of the girls.
