John Hume prize to be established this year

Prize will be given to a European who has contributed to the values which John Hume advocated for and to the 'further development' of the EU

John Hume was one of the architects of the Good Friday Agreement. File picture: Paul Faith/PA

A new annual prize in honour of Good Friday Agreement architect John Hume will be set up this year, it has been announced.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the award in the name of the former SDLP leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner will be established later this year and funded by the Irish Government.

The prize will be given to a European who has contributed to the values which Mr Hume advocated for and to the “further development” of the EU.

The move is a commitment of the programme for government, which said the award would be made by the European Parliament.

Micheál Martin described John Hume as ‘one of the greatest figures in modern Irish history’ (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Martin made the announcement during a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg about priorities of the Irish presidency of the Council to the EU.

He said that visiting the European Parliament chamber always reminds him of Mr Hume, who he described as “one of the most distinguished former MEPs” and “unquestionably one of the greatest figures in modern Irish history”.

Mr Martin said: “While he represented Northern Ireland, he spoke for the vast majority on our island who wanted a future free of the sectarian violence inflicted on our society by an unaccountable few.

“He was not just our visionary of peace, he was a passionate advocate for peace and prosperity through a shared European future.

“Just as the great generation which secured our independence brought us to membership of the European Union, John Hume directed us to its values and the opportunities for reconciliation, and breaking the historic cycle of distrust and conflict.”

Mr Martin added: “He was moved by the almost inconceivable success of leaving behind a tradition of savage conflict between nations and replacing it with a new era of co-operation.

“John was both a visionary and an immensely practical man. He saw obstacles, but he also saw how to move them out of the way.

“To honour his legacy, later this year we will be establishing and funding a new annual prize in his name.

“This will be awarded to a European who has contributed to the values which John advocated for and to the further development of our union.”