Ceann Comhairle unveils bust of John Hume to mark 25 years since Nobel Peace Prize jointly awarded to John Hume and David Trimble

The Houses of the Oireachtas is commemorating the 25^th anniversary of the receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize by unveiling a series of commemorative artworks. The bust of John Hume unveiled today in LH2000 aligns with the anniversary of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. A bust of Lord Trimble will be unveiled in December to align with the anniversary of their receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize. 

The Ceann Comhairle unveiled the bust in the presence of Mr Hume’s son, John Hume Jnr, and the late Lord Trimble’s wife, Lady Daphne, who both spoke briefly at the event.

The Ceann Comhairle said: “The bronze bust of John Hume, which we will unveil tonight, will be positioned, here at the Houses of the Oireachtas, alongside a bust of Lord Trimble, which is being acquired by the OPW and will be unveiled later this year. Although neither man was a member of the Dáil or the Seanad, their peace-building work was supported and admired here at Leinster House and we owe – and the people of Ireland owe – them a debt of gratitude. 

“It is appropriate at this point, of course, to recognise the efforts of all those who contributed to reaching for, and delivering, peace on our island; courageous political leaders, activists and community groups, and the many different partners in Ireland, the UK, Europe and the United States.”

Paying tribute to John Hume, the Ceann Comhairle said: “The success of the peace process lay in building partnerships and forging positive relationships across a variety of different perspectives and traditions. In the words of John Hume himself ‘Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace: respect for diversity’.

“John Hume had a very clear vision of how peace could be achieved: non-violence, respect for diversity, and equality and protection of fundamental rights. He devoted his political life to persuading others that his vision was the appropriate one to follow. In doing so, he changed the agenda for politics in both parts of Ireland, in Anglo-Irish relations and in the US-Irish relationship.

“But John Hume was much more than a man with a vision. He was also a man of action. We have a saying in Irish “Ní dhéanfaidh smaoineamh an treabhadh duit” or “Thinking won’t do the ploughing for you”. John Hume was a hard-working community and political leader, a man of courage and determination. He was a constant in the political life of Ireland from the 1960s until his passing in 2020. And his persistence, his perseverance, was, of course, as valuable and as important as his vision for peace.”

The Ceann Comhairle thanked John Hume Jnr and members of the Hume family, and Lady Daphne Trimble and her daughter Vicki, for attending the dual remembrance event.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

The bust of John Hume was created by sculptor Elizabeth O’Kane. Born in Northern Ireland, and now living in Dublin, Elizabeth O’Kane is one of Ireland’s leading figurative sculptors. Her work focuses on portraiture, expression and movement. Collectors of her work include the European Parliament; the Irish embassies in Washington DC and London; the Department of Foreign Affairs; the Office of Public Works (OPW); and Belfast City Hall.

At the suggestion of the Hume family, the bust of John Hume depicts their father in his early 40s, when he was first elected to the European Parliament, and wearing the pin of the Officier de Légion d’Honneur.

Portraits of John Hume and David Trimble were on display for this event. The portrait of John Hume is on loan from the Crilly Family and was painted by artist Edward McGuire. The portrait of David Trimble is a copy signed by the artist Colin Davidson and on loan from Queens University Belfast.