West Bank teens visit St Patrick’s Cathedral

Teenagers from the war-torn West Bank today visited a 500-year old monument to peace as their week long Irish tour draws to a close.

The 16 youngsters from the Palestinian village of Zebabdeh, led by Reverend Fadi Diab, are taking part in the Youth Connections for Peace project in conjunction with a Dublin school.

They visited St Patrick’s Cathedral where they heard the story of Ireland’s most famous Saint and were regaled with tales of the ’Door of Reconciliation’, which helped bring an end to a feud between two 15th century warring Earls.

Earlier in the week they met other Irish children and visited some of the country’s best-known sites.

Rev Diab said: “The young people here and their families were excited by this opportunity to make new friends in Ireland.

“With the exception of one student, none has ever travelled outside the West Bank before,” he said.

The ecumenical group of Palestinian Christians arrived in the country last Friday.

During their stay they saw the All-Ireland quarter final hurling match between Limerick and Clare, met with Irish students of similar age from Ballinteer Community School in Dublin, which helped organise the trip, and visited various religious sites.

Plans to meet with the relatives of the Omagh bombing in advance of the atrocity’s anniversary fell through, but the youngsters did speak with other Troubles victims’ families.

Today’s visit to the cathedral was an opportunity for the kids to get a snap-shot of Ireland’s troubled history and to marvel at the simple 15th century wooden door that brought peace between two warring and powerful Earls.

In 1492, Earls Ormonde and Kildare were locked in a bloody feud.

Kildare chased Ormonde into St Patrick’s where the former decided to call an end to the dispute.

With his sword, he cut a slit in a wooden door and stuck his hand through for a handshake.

Ormonde had a decision to make: cut off his rival’s hand, or shake it and declare peace.

He chose the latter.

The visitors were joined on the tour by pupils from Ballinteer.

Spokeswoman for the Youth Connections for Peace project Susan Hood said the children enjoyed their visit and she hoped it had fostered a greater understanding of the Middle East among the Irish kids.

The Palestinian teenagers are leaving Ireland for home on Monday.