Nominations sought for peace award

Nominations are being sought from the public for the Tipperary Peace Award which is marking its 25th anniversary.

Previous recipients of the honour including former world leaders Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela are being invited to a ceremony in Co Tipperary in May 2009.

The Peace Award was first founded in 1984 when politician and diplomat Sean McBride received the prize.

“The aim of the award is to give recognition to those who promote the ideals of peace and peaceful co-operation both in Ireland and abroad,” said a spokesman.

“Over the past years, the peace prize has been awarded to a range of peacemakers. Some have taken centre stage, others have worked behind the scenes in brokering peace accords under the most difficult of circumstances.”

Previous recipients include former world leaders such as Mikhail Gorbachev, the former prime minister of Lebanon, Rafic Hariri and former prime minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto.

Others honoured include aid campaigner Bob Geldof, Robin Eames and Goal founder John O’Shea.

“They are recognised for their courage in the face of adversity, for their perseverance through the most despairing of situations and for their vision and foresight through disillusion and despair,” the spokesman added.

The closing date to send nominations to the Tipperary Peace Convention is November 14.

The Peace Award will be presented in Tipperary town on May 1, 2009 as part of the Annual Tipperary International Peace Conference.