John Hume – A Titan of Peace
It is our duty to keep faith with John and Pat Hume’s principles of non-violence and peaceful change, keep their dream alive and inspire courageous change makers who will chart a better way forward for all of our children, in honour of John Hume, on the 5th anniversary of his passing.
The John and Pat Hume Foundation has compiled tributes from John’s colleagues and friends, that can be viewed below.
“First John Hume he was real, secondly, he did not seem to have an agenda other than he wanted inclusive peace and he thought non-violence was the best way to pursue it. He was the Irish conflicts Martin Luther King.” Bill Clinton
“John Hume is one of the chief architects of the Good Friday Agreement and was a great hero and a true peace maker. Throughout his long life he exhibited not just courage, but also fortitude, creativity and an utter conviction that democracy and human rights must define any modern society. During the darkest days of paramilitary terrorism and sectarian strife, he kept hope alive. And with patience, resilience and unswerving commitment, he triumphed and delivered a victory for peace.” Taoiseach Micheál Martin
“We were looking for a giant and found a man whose life made all our lives bigger.
We were looking for someone with superpowers and found clarity of thought, kindness and persistence. We were looking for a great leader and found a great servant.
We were looking for revolution and found it in parish halls with tea and biscuits and late-night meetings under fluorescence.
We were looking for a negotiator who understood that no-one wins unless everyone wins…and that peace is the only victory
We were looking for joy and heard it in the song of a man who loved his town so well and his missus even more.
We found John Hume.
For Pat, Thérèse, Áine, Aidan, John and Mo.”
Bono
“There are very few simple truths in life. But when it comes to John Hume, and his role in bringing peace to Ireland, there is one. Without him, there simply would not have been a peace process. For over three decades he remained true to his vision of an equal society. Even in the darkest of days, he never once doubted the ability of the people of Ireland of all traditions to come together to resolve our differences peacefully and to build a better, more prosperous future for all of our children.. He is a unique and great Irish man and we in Ireland are enormously proud of him.” Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland
Fr Paul Farren speaking about Pat Hume at John’s Funeral.
Statement by President Michael D. Higgins on the death of John Hume
3rd Aug 2020
“All of those who sought and worked for peace on our island of Ireland, and in the hearts of all, will have been deeply saddened by the passing of John Hume, Nobel Peace Laureate and Statesman.
John Hume, through his words, his astute diplomacy and willingness to listen to what was often difficult to accept but was the view of the ‘Other’, transformed and remodelled politics in Ireland, and the search for peace, with a personal bravery and leadership informed by a steadfast belief in the principles and values of genuine democracy.
John’s deep commitment to these values and his practical demonstration of tolerance and social justice, oftentimes in the face of strong opposition and tangible threats to his person and his family, asserted the fundamental principles of democracy. He and those others who helped usher in a discourse that enabled a new era of civil rights and responsive government that few would have thought possible, have placed generations in their debt, have been a source of hope.”
“John Hume had that extraordinary facility of combining audacity and courage but also working efficiently without seeking the limelight, which is also a form of courage.”
Jacques Delors, former EU President
“John Hume is one of the principal architects of the peace process in Northern Ireland. He conceived and worked for years to persuade the Irish and British Governments to establish the negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement. His high place in Irish history is assured.”
Senator George J. Mitchell
“John Hume’s message of tolerance and accommodation has been a shining beacon over the past thirty years in Northern Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement, and the brighter future it presents, stands as a fitting testament to a man who, through his talents of leadership, pragmatism and as a skilled negotiator, has made and continues to make, an immense contribution to the search for peace.”
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, TD
” As one of the founders of the SDLP, and its Leader for over twenty years, John has made an outstanding contribution not just to politics in Northern Ireland but to the politics of the island of Ireland as a whole. He has made an outstanding contribution to the building of relationships between the peoples of this island and the peoples of Britain, of Europe and of the United States of America”.
The Late Mr Michael Noonan, TD
“For more than 30 years John Hume has made a unique contribution to the pursuit of peace and justice in Northern Ireland, holding steadfastly to the belief that a just and honourable solution could be found even when others were tempted to lose hope. It is no exaggeration to say that the progress which has been made would not have been possible without his courage and dedication.”
Tony Blair, Former Prime Minister of Great Britain
“I’ve known John for nearly 30 years, and he’s always been one of the people I’ve most admired in the world. I’ve consistently been impressed by his insights, his courage, his commitment to peace, and his dedication to the people of Northern Ireland. He eminently deserved the Nobel Prize for his extraordinary achievements in the peace process. He’s a true profile in courage for our time and for all time.”
The Late Senator Edward Kennedy