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

The Houses of the Oireachtas is commemorating the 25th anniversary of the receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize with two commemorative artworks. The bust of John Hume was unveiled earlier this year to mark the anniversary of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, while the bust of Lord Trimble unveiled today aligns with the anniversary of their receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize in December 1998. 

The Ceann Comhairle unveiled the bust of the late Lord Trimble by sculptor John Sherlock in the presence of his wife, Lady Daphne, their daughter Vicky, son Nicholas and his wife Sarah, members of the Hume and Sherlock families, representatives of the unionist community in Northern Ireland, and serving and former Members of the Dáil and Seanad.

Also present were former Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt MLA and former UUP MP Lady Sylvia Hermon; the Church of Ireland Primate of All-Ireland, the Most Reverend Archbishop John McDowell; the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, Rev David Turtle; and former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who played a key role in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement. 

The Ceann Comhairle said: “This bust will be an important part of David Trimble’s legacy and it will be here in Leinster House as a constant reminder of his commitment to peace. We are honouring a great Ulsterman, a courageous politician, and a dedicated peace-maker.

“Earlier this year, we unveiled a bust of the late John Hume, another courageous politician and dedicated peace-maker. Our dual commemoration represents that extraordinarily special occasion 25 years ago when the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded jointly to David Trimble and John Hume for their efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Northern Ireland.”

Paying tribute to Lord Trimble, the Ceann Comhairle said: “David Trimble stood head and shoulders above those who resisted change and those who didn’t want the Belfast Good Friday Agreement to succeed. In the end, we crossed the rubicon. David and John, through dogged and gritty determination, gave us the political breakthrough that ended the violence, and gave Northern Ireland self-government on a cross-party, cross-community basis.

“In the heat of political battle, David was reluctant to use the word ‘vision’. Yet, that very thing was his constant companion, which saw him through to delivering his cherished objective. Peace. It may be imperfect but it is immeasurably better than what we witnessed before that point.”

The Ceann Comhairle also paid tribute to former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern for his role in the peace process, in particular the important relationship and trust he built with David Trimble.

“All of us here know of the role Bertie Ahern played but few will know of the deep respect and abiding friendship that was developed during long hours of problem-solving. Bertie and David relied upon one another and they, in turn, relied upon others including their advisers and committed supporters,” he said.

“We must also 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.”

The Ceann Comhairle said: “David Trimble said what he sought was a situation where unionism could be ‘at ease with itself and its neighbours.’ His neighbours say ‘thank you’. David’s peace-building work was supported and admired here at Leinster House and we thank him and his family for delivering the special gift of peace we all now take so much for granted.

“Together David Trimble and John Hume were deservedly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998. It is fitting that we in the Houses of the Oireachtas should thank and honour both men for their contribution to peace and stability on our shared island.”

The Ceann Comhairle thanked Lady Daphne and her daughter Vicky, son Nicholas and his wife Sarah, John Hume Jnr and his wife Kela, Rosemary Sherlock and her family, and invited guests for attending the dual remembrance event.