Chair of Peace

Tom and Shelly O’Neill hosted an event at their Beacon Hill home the other night to commemorate the John Hume and Thomas P. O’Neill Jr. Chair in Peace that now resides at the University of Ulster in Londonderry, Ireland. The event was to commemorate the Chair in Peace at the University of Ulster – a full time position, and the most senior of academic positions, aimed at continuing to promote the goals that John Hume and Tip O’Neill championed for Peace in Northern Ireland.   The Chair in Peace commemorates a strong professional and personal relationship between John Hume and Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr., which developed during the dark days of ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland with the goal of promoting a peaceful resolution.  The Chair will play a key role in the on-going efforts to maintain peace in Northern Ireland and to share the lessons with other areas of conflict. The event brought together friends, family and local dignitaries to honor the legends of John Hume and Tip O’Neill, who worked together during the dark days of ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland to promote a peaceful resolution.