Peace in a noisy world

The noise we inflict on ourselves.

May 10, 2025

“Peace be with all of you,” said Robert Prevost, 69, now Pope Leo XIV following his unexpected election to the throne of St Peter after only four conclave ballots. The crowd chanted “Leone, Leone” and American flags were waved. The new Pope added: “God wishes us well, God loves you all and evil will not prevail!”

It was a very busy week in the international news. As well as a new Pope, there was an international trade agreement between the US and the UK, conflict between India and Pakistan, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and of course VE day celebrations in Britain and beyond, marking 80 years since the Allies defeated Nazi Germany.

Not that there were VE celebrations in Ireland. As a state, Ireland shamefully decided that that conflict was the one to sit out and maintain neutrality. Today, the Irish government never stop telling you how they will not sit idly by why innocent people are killed in conflict – Palestinians in particular. So frequent do Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris roll out the lectern for the people of Palestine that the Irish government really should be known as the Ministry for Palestine.

“Colleagues, children are being left starving, and even dying, as we speak. We cannot and will not stand idly by and let this happen” Tánaiste Simon Harris said during the week. He did not add, we will not stand idly by like we did during WWII, unsurprisingly.

Ireland loves to congratulate itself on its view that it is always on the high moral ground, looking down on everyone else. But what we do know is that in the biggest conflict of them all within living memory, Ireland as a state was no nowhere to be seen although plenty of Irish men both North and South did volunteer to fight with Britain. No, in fact it was worse than that. Taoiseach Éamon de Valera thought it would be a spanking good idea to go and offer condolences to the German nation on the death of Adolf Hitler, all in the name of Ireland’s declared neutrality.

So, there was no bunting down my way celebrating 80 years since VE Day. Instead I turned on the telly box to show the children the RAF fly-past and other celebrations. Could you please take your head out of that iPad for one second and have a look at this I ordered Matthew. A lot of people died so you would have the chance to waste your time on YouTube I added. Baby John absolutely loved it and of the blue, white and red smoke, ‘red is my favourite’ he said.

“But you are not even British” my eldest daughter Annabelle pointed out. Yes, I know that, I replied, but you are. Also your late English grandfather served in the British army. Why I even bother I don’t know…

We lived in London for the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II and her in 2022, the wedding of that pair Prince Harry and Meghan in 2018, and the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May 2023. By the end of all that I was quite bunting-out, to be honest. Now that I have left London I miss the street parties, the endless flags and the gatherings. The children’s school often went big on these national occasions. I distinctly remember the Harry and Meghan face bunting in Emma’s nursery. That was quite a sight I can tell you. It just goes to show you don’t know what you are missing until it is gone.

We had a bank holiday and my youngest also had Tuesday off, which meant I could not write as much as I wanted. Instead I took John for ‘an amazing wood walk’ as we like to call it at one of the few woodlands within a twenty minute drive. Which brings me back to the concept of peace, for it was at Balrath woods that I found both peace and silence.

(A previous outing to Balwrath woods April 2024)

I am not going to debate whether the new Pope Leo XIV is a liberal or a conservative. I was heartened by his first words - Peace be with all of you. These were the first words that Jesus said to his disciples in both Luke 24:36 and John 20:19. “Peace to you.”

It is trite to say that the world could do with some peace these days, so I will settle for saying that our homes – somewhere we have actual control over – badly need some peace. And silence. How peaceful was your house this morning? Mine left much to be desired.

I have been enjoying the amazing weather over the last few weeks, praise be, but as I complained before the good weather often brings out the noise. There is the neighbour who must get the power washer out on a Sunday at 1pm. And the hedges seem to need strimming right after that. Now and again there is a house alarm that gets angry at 8am. And all of this is on top of the endless noise we voluntarily, and madly if you ask me, voluntarily inflict upon ourselves day after day.

The machines that demand your attention – why did they add that beeping sound to the washing machine, the dryer, and the dishwasher? The radio that must be on with the TV and of course the endless notifications you have, like an insane person, put on your phone to tell you that the Pope has died, or a trade deal has been signed or a celebrity is half naked on a beach, or there is a new series of the most depressing TV programme ever – the Handmaids Tale out. This does not even include the endless WhatsApp groups telling you that Jimmy forgot this lunch. Why? Just why do we do this to ourselves?

When John and I went on the amazing wood walk, I found the silence, other than the incredible birdsong which doesn’t count. There was not a car or a hedge trimmer or indeed another living person to be seen. I don’t have any photos as I left my phone in the car. Even John was silent, which shows how children reflect the atmosphere around them. And in those woods, for an hour, we enjoyed peace and silence.

So this weekend I hope you find some peace and maybe even some silence. Perhaps you’ll find it mass or in an early morning shower while the rest of the family are asleep or on a walk on a beach or the wood or perhaps while putting the laundry away without listening to a podcast or music or anything else.

Whatever you do I hope you have a great weekend. Thanks as ever for the support and reading.