17 March 2021 3:30pm ET / 7:30pm GMT
Life & Legacy
This Saint Patrick’s Day we mark the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Friends of Ireland in Washington DC. We also mark the first Saint Patrick’s Day since the death of the great John Hume, Nobel Laureate, politician, architect of the Peace Process in Northern Ireland.
Thank you for joining the family, friends and colleagues of John Hume, as we remember his life and legacy, here in the city where he spent many Saint Patrick’s Days furthering the cause of peace.
Early Years
Growing up, John and Pat Hume witnessed poverty, poor housing, inequality and injustice in their home town of Derry. These experiences shaped their life-long commitment to peace and social justice. At the age of 27, John Hume became the youngest ever president of the Irish League of Credit Unions. John Hume led the Civil Rights Movement against discrimination and electoral abuse. The ensuing struggle for civil rights for all citizens of Northern Ireland, and his deep commitment to non-violence, drew him inevitably into politics.
Featured Speakers
President William J. Clinton
Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton
Micheál Martin, T.D. – An Taoiseach (Prime Minister of Ireland)
Nancy Pelosi – Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Richard Neal – Chairman, Ways and Means Committee, U.S. House of Representatives
Daniel Mulhall – Ambassador of Ireland to the United States
Mary McAleese – Former President of Ireland
Thomas P. O'Neill III – Former Lt. Governor of Massachusetts
Nancy Soderberg – Former Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs to President Clinton
Peter T. King – Former U.S. Congressman
Elizabeth Frawley Bagley – Former U.S. Ambassador
James T. Walsh – Former U.S. Congressman
Mark Durkan – Former Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland
Mike Nesbitt, MLA - Northern Ireland Assembly
Colum Eastwood, MP – Leader of the SDLP
Andrew Elliott – Director / Counsellor of the Northern Ireland Bureau
Bríd Rodgers – Former Deputy-Leader, SDLP
Nikkolas Smith – Artist
Tommie Gorman – RTE News
Mary Pat Kelly – Author and Filmmaker
A Special Performance by
Legendary Irish Musician, Songwriter and Producer
Phil Coulter
A Special Poem
John's grandchildren Aoibhe, Ciará, Daragh, Éamon, Rachel, Róisín and Úna will share a special poem, "To Granda" written by John's son Aidan.
On behalf of his Mother Pat and his brother and sisters, Aidan Hume will honor and celebrate his father's life.
Your Event Hosts
Executive Producer: Michael Colbert
Leadership for Peaceful Change in Resilient Communities
The John and Pat Hume Foundation for Peaceful Change and Reconciliation has been founded to honour the legacy of Nobel Laureate John Hume and his wife Pat Hume.
The mission of Foundation is ‘to advance non-violent peaceful change-making for present and future generations in divided societies nationally and conflict zones internationally, encompassing social and economic justice, democratic progress, and the building of inclusive and resilient communities as fundamental cornerstones of sustained peace.’
JOHN & PAT
We draw inspiration from the lives and work of John and Pat Hume, who brought peaceful change to millions of people across Ireland and the UK.
WHAT WE DO
We support and inspire leadership for peaceful change through a range of thought-shaping, outreach and support activities.
WHO WE ARE
We are governed by a cross-community board of varying faiths and viewpoints who share the belief that difference is of the essence of humanity.