A special collection of the world-renowned peace accolades awarded to the late John Hume, will be on display in the historic Guildhall in Derry~Londonderry from December 10.
The collection includes the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize, jointly awarded to John Hume and Sir David Trimble for their role in the Northern Ireland peace process, the Martin Luther King Jnr Non-Violent Prize bestowed in 1999, and the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize, awarded in 2001.
The former St Columb’s College teacher, SDLP leader and architect of the good Friday Agreement, is the only person in the world to have received all three distinguished honours.
The collection was gifted to the people of Derry by John’s late wife Pat in 2021 and will go on display in the Guildhall, the city’s premier civic building, where it can be viewed by visitors daily.
The John Hume peace collection is of major historic significance and will be of interest to people from around the world interested in the Northern Ireland Peace Process and its global importance in terms of conflict resolution.
John Hume had a pivotal role in the Civil Rights movement and gave a voice to the people of Derry, using his role as an MP to shine a light on injustices.
Visit Derry CEO, Odhran Dunne said the exhibition provides an opportunity for visitors to the city and district to view items which have great historical significance not just locally for the city of Derry but nationally and internationally.
He said: “John Hume is the only person to have received all three distinguished awards. This truly unique collection of world-renowned peace accolades is a fantastic legacy for the people of the city and is a tribute to the work of both John and Pat Hume in bringing about positive reform to protect and empower the most vulnerable in our society.
“John Hume was an incredibly important person for Derry, and it was evident to see just how fondly he is remembered earlier this year when a huge mural of him was unveiled in the city with the word ‘Peace’ emblazoned across it.
“Adding this collection to our already impressive visitor offering is a wonderful addition; complimenting the many tours and attractions that tell the story of the city and providing another reason for people to visit.”
The exhibition comes shortly after an official portrait of John Hume by Northern Ireland artist, Colin Davidson was unveiled in Westminster. The artwork was based on sketches the artist made of the founding SDLP member back in 2016.
For more information about Derry and the John Hume Peace Collection visit www.visitderry.com.
