Lord Empey: John Hume was a towering figure of Irish nationalism who used politics to progress, not force

John Hume was the towering figure of Irish nationalism in the second half of the 20th century.
By Reg Empey
Published 4th Aug 2020, 09:00 BST
John Hume, centre, in 1998 with fellow MEPs Jim Nicholson, left, and Ian Paisley. The trio worked together to get funds for Northern Ireland, and are seen above at an event to discuss such funding, with Jim Dougal, Head of Representation for EU in NI and the President of the European Parliament, right, Jose Maria Gil-Robles (AP Photo/Paul McErlane)John Hume, centre, in 1998 with fellow MEPs Jim Nicholson, left, and Ian Paisley. The trio worked together to get funds for Northern Ireland, and are seen above at an event to discuss such funding, with Jim Dougal, Head of Representation for EU in NI and the President of the European Parliament, right, Jose Maria Gil-Robles (AP Photo/Paul McErlane)
John Hume, centre, in 1998 with fellow MEPs Jim Nicholson, left, and Ian Paisley. The trio worked together to get funds for Northern Ireland, and are seen above at an event to discuss such funding, with Jim Dougal, Head of Representation for EU in NI and the President of the European Parliament, right, Jose Maria Gil-Robles (AP Photo/Paul McErlane)

John Hume was the towering figure of Irish nationalism in the second half of the 20th century.

He understood the importance of tapping into the Irish diaspora, particularly in the United States and he was one of the great networkers, both in America and in his role as a MEP in Brussels.

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The then three MEPs — John Hume, Jim Nicholson and Ian Paisley — working together with Jacques Delors initiated the PEACE money which continues to flow to Northern Ireland from Brussels.

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Letter to the editor

In doing so they demonstrated the advantages of the different traditions working together.

He saw progress being made politically and not by the use of force which distinguished him from the current republican movement.

Lord Empey, Former Ulster Unionist leader, Westminster

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Related topics:John HumeMEPUnited StatesNorthern Ireland