DCU pays tribute to David Trimble

Prof Sinnott said 

“David Trimble will be remembered as a man of great courage and determination, whose leadership of the unionist community was critical to achieving peace on the island of Ireland. 

In 2013, DCU was proud to honour his achievements, alongside Seamus Mallon, in recognition of the ways in which their work reflected the University’s mission ‘to transform lives and societies’.”

The former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and Northern Ireland First Minister, architect of the Northern Ireland Peace Process, for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998 (with John Hume), passed away yesterday, July 25th, aged 77.

In October 2013, on the 15th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, DCU conferred honorary degrees on both Mr Trimble and Seamus Mallon in recognition of their key contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process.  Both men were conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy (honoris causa) at a special ceremony in The Helix.

Speaking at the ceremony, DCU’s then Chancellor, Martin McAleese said

“The vocation of leadership in peace and culture change is demanding, draining and difficult as our two honorees today could no doubt testify. But we honour them because they honoured that vocation, committed to it and saw it through, come what may.

David Trimble and Seamus Mallon share this platform because we owe them a debt of gratitude for all they did to transcend the perverse, paralysing politics of  the past and  breathe new life, fresh momentum into the future - your future.... They took risks, argued the toss vehemently, made concessions and compromises, made themselves vulnerable.”