The inaugural John Hume and Thomas P. O’Neill Chair Peace Lecture took place on the Derry-Londonderry Campus of Ulster University on 20 September 2024 through a partnership of the Hume O’Neill Chair and the John and Pat Hume Foundation.
The lecture was given by Taoiseach Simon Harris TD. The lecture paid tribute to the work of John Hume and Tip O’Neill in terms of peacebuilding but also reaffirmed the commitment of the Irish Government to deepening peace on the island.
Taoiseach Simon Harris TD noted:
Taoiseach Simon Harris TD
"We are also witnessing a new era in British-Irish relations. My recent meetings with Prime Minister Keir Starmer have set in motion a much-needed reset of relations between our two Governments. I have always believed – and this remains unshakable – that the peace process thrives when the British and Irish Governments act in full partnership as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. Unilateralism failed in the past, as seen in the ill-judged attempts to address the legacy of the Troubles while ignoring the rights of victims’ families. Today, we are restoring a genuine sense of partnership, ensuring that together we address the critical issues that underpin lasting peace, progress, and reconciliation. The Irish Government is fully committed to strengthening relationships across all political traditions on this island, and to rebuilding trust where it has been eroded. We know the scars of history run deep, and the wounds of the Troubles still linger. Even more reason to seize this opportunity and work to achieve real progress."
The John Hume and Thomas P. O’Neill Chair Lecture Series builds on the previous Tip O’Neill Lecture series hosted at Ulster University from 2002-2009. These lectures took place at a significant time in the Northern Ireland peace process. The series featured an unparalleled group of international figures, including:
- Michel Rocard (9 May 2003)
- President Bill Clinton (6 July 2003)
- An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD (4 March 2004)
- Professor Romano Prodi (1 April 2004)
- Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (26 April 2004)
- Pat Cox MEP (26 August 2004)
- Secretary-General Kofi Annan (18 October 2004)
- Dr Garret FitzGerald (15 December 2005)
- Senator John Kerry (5 March 2006)
- Ambassador Mitchell Reiss (21 May 2006)
- President Mary McAleese (4 December 2006)
- Dermot Ahern TD (3 April 2007)
- Senator Maurice Haves (4 June 2007)
- Professor Kader Asmal (4 February 2008)
- Robert Fisk (5 January 2009)
- President Juan José Ibarrete Markuartu (2 February 2009)
It is critical to note that through John Hume, in his honorary capacity as Tip O’Neill Chair in Peace Studies at the University of Ulster, many speakers took up the opportunity to speak at the university.
The Chair, in partnership with the John and Pat Hume Foundation, will continue the annual tradition of a lecture that delves into both local contexts and global issues, inviting notable figures working in peace and conflict to share their insights. It seems opportune to link the historical connections between Hume and O’Neill again through the new lecture series. However, more importantly, as new waves of conflict sweep the globe, it provides a forum to share lessons and place peace centre stage at the highest level.