re in our hearts’
tude rung truer – blessed be the peacemakers.
‘The life of John Hume will forever be a blessing upon this island since Ireland is now blessed by the peace he gifted to us all. It is the greatest legacy a political leader can bestow upon his country.’
Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster said Hume was a giant figure in the life of Irish nationalism and wider Northern Ireland.
‘For many of my generation, he was a constant throughout our lives,’ said the DUP leader.
‘Whilst we disagreed politically, I always admired his steadfast abhorrence of violence, regardless from where it came.
‘Whilst he was recognised across the world, there can be no doubt, however, that his loss will be most keenly felt in his home city.
‘My thoughts and prayers are with John’s family and friends at this difficult time. We think especially of his wife Pat, his children and grandchildren. I hope they take some comfort from the peace he helped to create.’
Sinn Féin deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill also expressed her sadness at his passing.
‘John Hume was a hugely important figure in our political history and a driving force in the Good Friday Agreement,’ she said.
‘He was a man of vision and committed to bringing about equal rights for all.
‘John leaves behind a legacy of power sharing and peace.’
Former Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble, who was jointly awarded the Nobel peace prize along with Hume, said he left an enduring legacy.
‘He was a major contributor to politics in Northern Ireland and particularly to the process that gave us an agreement that we are still working our way through,’ he said. ‘That’s hugely important and that’s something that he will be remembered for in years to come.’
Former UK prime minister John Major also praised Hume’s efforts to win peace.
‘Few others invested such time and energy to this search and few sought to change entrenched attitudes with such fierce determination,’ he said.
‘Those whose communities have been transformed into peaceful neighbourhoods may wish to pay tribute to one of the most fervent warriors for peace.
‘He has earned himself an honoured place in Irish history.’
Former Ireland football manager, Brian Kerr, recalled a ‘big handshake and the welcoming vibe’ of Mr Hume whenever they met in the tearoom at the Brandywell during Derry City matches.
‘He was a big man in every way as far as I was concerned,’ said Kerr, who admitted to ‘a shiver of upset’ when he heard the news of Hume’s sad passing.
‘When I saw him in recent years at Derry City games, which I did anytime I was up, I kind of felt sad that he had dedicated his life so much to dealing with so many other things in his life. But yet his love for sport was there enough to continue going to Derry City.’
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: ‘John Hume was quite simply a political giant. He stood proudly in the tradition that was totally opposed to violence and committed to pursuing his objectives by exclusively peaceful and democratic means.’
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that Europe had ‘lost a great champion of peace’.
‘John Hume dedicated his life to promoting tolerance, civil rights and social justice. His loss is felt by all who share in this struggle, in Northern Ireland, Ireland and across the world,’ she wrote.
Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt quoted Hume in his tribute: ‘All conflict is about difference... The European visionaries decided that difference is not a threat, difference is natural. Difference is of the essence of humanity.’
‘Difference is not a threat’