On on Friday night, 23 September 2016, the Chair attended the 2016 Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Award in Buncrana, Co Donegal. The award (the 5th) was given to Chris Matthews. Matthews is an American political commentator and most well known for his talk show “Hardball” on MSNBC. He also served as Press Secretary to Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill.
Chris Matthews
At the event Matthews took to the opportunity to reflect on the current political situation in the US. He felt what was going on right now was “crazy”. There is a tension between Trump’s “nasty politics” and Trump selling people an unrealisable dream of “manufacturing in 1950s”, compared to Hilary Clinton as an experienced politician but being painted as “the establishment”. He also noted that when he worked with Tip O’Neill he focused on letting people “know who you are” and in O’Neill’s case that meant people could support him as his values were made more prominent. Matthews also reflected on O’Neill’s political style noting that he understood that debate was a way of moving politics forward, and that today people have forgotten this thinking debate is politics. When the debate is done compromises have to be made and the work done Matthews noted. He ended by saying that his “crystal ball is a bit foggy” about who would win the US election, but if African Americans, Hispanics and women vote, Trump will lose. But we will have to wait and see.
Professor Brandon Hamber, Professor Paul Arthur, Shelly O’Neill and Dr Tom O’Neill III at the Diaspora lecture
On the Saturday morning following the event Professor Paul Arthur, Honorary Professor at INCORE, gave the Tip O’Neill Diaspora lecture which he titled “Imagination and Politics”. He particularly focused on the relationship between Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill. Although from opposite political sides they had the foresight to realise they needed to work together, and they symbolised the importance of the democratic tradition.
Read the Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Award press release.
The Chair was officially launched today 23 June 2016. This afforded a great opportunity to host Dr Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mohandas K. “Mahatma” Gandhi. Dr Gandhi delivered at the Great Hall on the Magee Campus an inspiring speech on peace and non-violence, as well as sharing the lessons he learned while growing up in his grandfather’s home in South Africa. The visit was the first headline event to be hosted by the Chair, and served as a fitting and moving launch. During his visit Dr Gandhi also met with Ulster University students and staff and the Clinton Summer School at INCORE’s participants, as well as community leaders as part of an IFI hosted seminar. The lecture was also part supported by the Smyth Memorial lecture fund, and it is anticipated that the Smyth Memorial lecture will be an annual event hosted by the Chair.
Dr Adrian Johnston, Chair of the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), Dr Arun Gandhi and Professor Brandon Hamber (The John Hume and Thomas P. O’Neill Chair in Peace)
Dr Thomas O’Neill III and Dr Pat Hume (Honorary Graduates)
Dr Arun Gandhi and Professor Brandon Hamber (The John Hume and Thomas P. O’Neill Chair in Peace)
Dr Arun Gandhi talking to students
Dr Arun Gandhi
Dr Arun Gandhi talking to students
Dr Arun Gandhi talking to students
Professor Gillian Robinson, Dr Adrian Johnston, Chair of the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), Professor Brandon Hamber (The John Hume and Thomas P. O’Neill Chair in Peace), Dr Arun Gandhi and Dr Maire Braniff, Director of INCORE. (Photo: Nigel McDowell/Ulster University)
Professor Brandon Hamber (The John Hume and Thomas P. O’Neill Chair in Peace), Dr Arun Gandhi, Dr Pat Hume, Dr Thomas O’Neill III and Professor Paddy Nixon (Ulster Vice Chancellor)
Various guests and donors at launch dinner.
Gillian McColgan, Dr Adrian Johnston, Chair of the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), Professor Brandon Hamber (The John Hume and Thomas P. O’Neill Chair in Peace), Dr Arun Gandhi, E. Neville Isdell, inaugural donor and Ulster University honorary graduate, Professor Paddy Nixon, Caroline Armstrong (Head of Fundraising, Ulster University)
Eddie Friel (Head of Development and Alumni Office), Dr Adrian Johnston, Chair of the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), Professor Brandon Hamber (The John Hume and Thomas P. O’Neill Chair in Peace), Dr Arun Gandhi, Dr Maire Braniff (INCORE Director)
Ulster University hosted President Clinton’s 5th visit to Derry~Londonderry where he honoured John Hume’s outstanding contributions to peacebuilding, helped to launch ‘Peacemaking in the Twenty-first Century’ edited by John Hume, Tom G. Fraser and Leonie Murray and celebrated the University’s success in raising the £3m required to establish the John Hume and Thomas P. O’Neill Chair in Peace.
President Clinton welcomed to Guidhall in Derry/Londonderry
President Clinton welcome by Ulster University, VC Richard Barnett and INCORE Director Brandon Hamber
John Hume, President Clinton and Pat Hume
During President Clinton’s visit to Derry on 5th March 2014, Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Barnett was delighted to announce that the endowment of £3m/$4.8m required to establish this Chair in perpetuity had been successfully raised.
Guildhall Square
Crowds at Guildhall Square
President Clinton signs copies of ‘Peacemaking in the Twenty-first Century’
President Clinton with Tom and Shelly O’Neill, Pat and John Hume
Various members of the Ulster University, City Council and President Clinton
Dr Loretta Brennan Glucksman, then Chair of the American Ireland Funds, held an exclusive event at her home in New York to celebrate the establishment of the John Hume and Thomas P. O’Neill Chair in Peace.
Dr Loretta Brennan Glucksman
Loretta Brennan Glucksman addresses the group
Views from the apartment
Aidan Hume, Brandon Hamber (INCORE, Ulster University), Paul Arthur ((INCORE, Ulster University) and Loretta Brennan Glucksman
Kate Bond from Ulster University Development Office and Patrick Nolan (Ulster Alumni and Vice President, Editor in Chief, Penguin Books)
Professor McKenna from Ulster University talks about the Hume O’Neill Chair
Thomas P. O’Neill III addressed the crowd
Warm response to the speeches
Aidan Hume, Loretta Brennan Glucksman and Tom O’Neill
Thomas O’Neill III speaks about the John Hume and Thomas P. O’Neill Chair in Peace at the University of Ulster
The establishment of a new peace chair at the University of Ulster’s Magee campus was this week the focus of a major gala dinner in Washington DC hosted by the American Ireland Fund.
The John Hume and Thomas P O’Neill Chair in Peace will be part of a new wider initiative building on the work already undertaken by the University’s International Conflict Research Institute (INCORE) at Magee which has been applying lessons from Northern Ireland’s peace process to other conflict zones around the world.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Barnett, who joined a range of senior political and business leaders from the US, UK, Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic for tonight’s American Ireland dinner, confirmed: “The University is looking to build on the excellent work INCORE has been doing to embed peace locally and assist peacemaking efforts globally.
“The John Hume and Thomas P O’Neill Chair in peace recognises two pivotal figures in the quest for permanent peace in Northern Ireland. It will also play a significant role in a new INCORE peace initiative which will train the next generation of peacemakers and peace-builders from Northern Ireland and abroad.
“We believe this programme will further enhance our Magee campus’s reputation as a sustainable centre of international excellence in peace and conflict studies.
“In addition to recognising Professor Hume and former House of Representatives Speaker Thomas P. O’Neill, the University is keen through this initiative to mark the legacy of the peace process and the contribution of other individuals who played a critical role in securing peace and stability in Northern Ireland.”
Over the past decade, Nobel Peace Laureate Professor John Hume has been closely associated with the University and his international stature has given Ulster unrivalled visibility in the international sphere. He currently holds an Honorary Professorship at the University.
Thomas P O’Neill was one of the ‘Four Horsemen’ group of Irish-American politicians who, influenced by Professor Hume’s peace-making strategies, helped create the conditions for Northern Ireland’s peace process.
A former Speaker of the House, his name has been associated with Magee in the past 10 years in a series of ‘Tip O’Neill Peace Lectures’ supported by the Ireland Funds and delivered by international statesmen and stateswomen at the personal invitation of Professor Hume. President Bill Clinton, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, European Commission President Romano Prodi, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry were among those who delivered lectures at Magee.
In November, the International Fund for Ireland awarded challenge funding of £1m to support the establishment of the new peace studies chair, and a further £127,400 via a private donation has been raised towards a £3 million endowment for the John Hume and Thomas P O’Neill chair.
Professor Barnett said: “The University welcomes the generous and far-sighted challenge funding from the International Fund for Ireland which will enable us to move forward with this important academic initiative.
“We are also encouraged by the generosity of the inaugural private donor who was keen to recognise John Hume and Thomas P O’Neill’s role as peacemakers and the important work INCORE has been engaged in in cementing the peace in Northern Ireland and promoting and assisting peacemaking in other conflict zones around the world.
“The decision by the American Ireland Fund to feature the John Hume and Thomas P O’Neill Chair in Peace at the Washington gala, attended by senior Republican and Democrat Congressmen and key figures in the US business community, is another major feather in the cap for our fundraising efforts for this programme and for the University of Ulster.
“Tonight’s focus on the initiative in Washington DC is another key stage of a major fundraising drive. We are confident our plans will be generously supported by friends of the University in honour of these two great international statesmen and their lasting legacy of peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.”
Professor Barnett is on a week long visit to the United States where he is holding business meetings with senior politicians and attending events in the White House, the Northern Ireland Bureau and the British and Irish Embassies.
ENDS
Further Information
John Hume was formerly leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, former MP for Foyle and MEP for Northern Ireland. He received the Nobel Peace prize in 1998 (along with Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble) for his contribution to peace inNorthern Ireland. John Hume is now an Honorary Professor at the University of Ulster.
The late Thomas ‘Tip’ O’Neill was one of the foremost Irish-American Democratic politicians of his generation, who rose to becomeSpeaker of the House. His deep interest in Northern Ireland led to his partnership with John Hume in the drive for peace. Speaker O’Neill wasalso instrumental in the creation of the IFI. He died in 1994.
To read about the American Ireland Fund, click here.
“We are also encouraged by the generosity of the inaugural private donor who was keen to recognise John Hume and Thomas P O’Neill’s role as peacemakers and the important work INCORE has been engaged in in cementing the peace in Northern Ireland and promoting and assisting peacemaking in other conflict zones around the world.