Irish President Mary McAleese last night delivered a powerful and inspiring message at the Magee campus as she gave the latest in the Tip O'Neill Peace lecture series.

Taking as her theme “ All Peace Is Local, the President said: “Northern Ireland is within a whisper of devolution and a new dawn. Other parts of the world where there was only fear, hatred and no end in sight to the violence were looking on, to see if the politics of partnership and peace would make it across the line.

"But this is the most liberated and the best educated generation ever to inhabit the island. It has the brain-power to know the past as a mess and the skill to clean the mess up effectively.”

"It has the heart power to recognise the loss and waste that come out of conflict and the passion to heal and reconcile."

Over 140 of the city's VIPs crowded in to the Great Hall to hear the President speak.

Welcoming President McAleese to the campus, the Vice-Chancellor said: “We are continuing the tradition of the Tip O’Neill lecture series which has brought international distinction and recognition to University, this campus at Magee, this city of Derry and the region that we serve.”

He praised the tireless work Professor Hume had carried out on behalf of peace and the University, and the support provided to the Chair by the Ireland Funds.

For the Ireland Funds, Senator Maurice Hayes said the Ireland Funds’ support of the Chair gave the Funds an opportunity to salute John Hume’s work as peacemaker and great parliamentarian, European, Irishman - and Derryman.

Professor Hume introduced President McAleese , describing her as ”an outstanding President of Ireland.”

H e said : ”The attendance here tonight is representative of all sections of our community in Northern Ireland, and underlines the respect that they have for you.

President McAleese said Northern Ireland had a strong entrepreneurial tradition, a rich multifaceted culture drawing on the deep wells of Irish, British and Scottish tradition.

But just at the point where its most educated generation ever appeared, it slid into the troubles, and
never had until now, the chance to reveal its fullest potential and harness all its talent in a unified, civic society.

Even though access to free second level education in the south came 25 years later than in the north, there was no mystery as to what that education revolution unleashed into Irish society. The Ireland built as a result was the success story par excellence of the European Union.

The president added: "But both jurisdictions inhabit one small divided island and we have yet to see what could be accomplished if both jurisdictions worked comfortably and respectfully together for the advancement of this region and for all its inhabitants.

"The potential is enormous. The business communities north and south have been powerhouses of fresh energy and pragmatic thinking, seeing as they do the many benefits to be gained for both jurisdictions by working
collegially.

"Through the pressures for peace from so many constituencies we now have this hard-earned, miraculous chance to see what a fresh, new culture of cooperation within Northern Ireland, between North and South, and between Ireland and Britain can accomplish.

"A wise man once said, if you are given the opportunity of a lifetime make sure you take it in the lifetime of the opportunity. Let's hope the opportunity will be taken and that soon, very soon, Northern Ireland will become a byword for the triumph of politics.

"The latest lesson from these past fraught years of peacebuilding is that there is a time for moving on and we are clearly well and truly there."

Professor Jim Allen, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Provost of Magee thanked the President for her address, which he described as 'remarkable, powerful and insightful.

She was presented with a bouquet of flowers, and later mingled with guest at a reception in the Thyme Out restaurant.

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For further information, please contact:

David Young
Telephone: 028 90366074
Email: David Young