John Hume’s son: ‘I honestly never knew just how much my dad meant to people in Derry’

The peacemaker’s son, John Jnr., told the ‘Journal’ this week that his mum, Pat, in particular, has been buoyed by “so many genuine” expressions of condolence from people not only in Ireland but right across the world.

“I genuinely wasn’t fully aware just how much my dad meant to the people of Derry,” said John Jnr, speaking ahead of the launch of a new peace foundation named in honour of his parents.

“Granted, I’ve been living in Dublin for a long time now but to be allowed to fully appreciate the depths to which he impacted on people’s lives is humbling. He meant so much to so many.

“The sheer emotional response across the country and further afield to his passing has been incredible. He had a real attachment to so many people and the amount of people who have a personal story to tell about him is amazing. All of this has been a real comfort - particularly for my mother.”

Mr Hume says the months since his father’s death, while sad for the family, have been greatly eased by the realisation of his legacy.

Turning to his mum, Mr Hume said: “She’s very self-sufficient and knows how to look after herself. She is a doer. I speak to her most days and she is in good form. The family in Derry are there for her. She doesn’t get out as often as she would like due to Covid, but, other than that, she just gets on with things.”

Turning to the new John and Pat Hume Foundation - which is launched online on Friday - Mr Hume says the family is fully supportive of it and is particularly pleased that it also recognises their mother’s role and legacy.

“My mum and dad were a team who found inspiration, energy and determination from each other,” he said. “They both had an unwavering determination to peace, equality and economic justice, all of which are intertwined. Difference should never be the source of conflict and the foundation will promote that message both here in Ireland and further afield.”

Mr Hume said the family was also delighted that the foundation will be headquartered in Derry.

“The strong community roots of Derry played a formative role in developing our parents’ political views and determination for peaceful change,” he said. “The foundation will thrive from that as well.”

The new foundation’s patrons include former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, and her husband, Martin McAleese, Nadia Murad, 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Senator George J. Mitchell, who brokered the Good Friday Agreement, and Seamus Mallon (posthumously), former deputy leader of the SDLP.

The foundation is a non-party political organisation and led by a Board of Directors chaired by former Executive Minister, Professor Sean Farren. Senior members of the Hume family, including John Hume Jnr. and Professor Mo Hume, are closely involved in its leadership.

Check out: https://www.humefoundation.org