Vote Hume as the greatest Irish person of all time: Durkan

LONDONDERRY Nobel Laureate John Hume is up against Daniel O'Connell, Eamon De Valera, Charles Stewart Parnell and Oscar Wilde - amongst others - in the bid to be named the greatest Irish figure of all time.

Foyle MP Mark Durkan has urged the people of Londonderry to vote for Nobel Laureate and former SDLP leader John Hume as the "greatest Irish figure" in the country's history.

Mr Hume is one of 40 people currently short-listed to feature in a new RT documentary series about Ireland's greatest people.

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The five people with the most votes will then become the subject of hour-long documentaries, each charting the individual's impact and contribution to Irish life.

Voting gets underway today and will close at noon on Friday 2 April.

The winner will be announced on RT's The Late Late Show in October.

Mr Durkan said: "John Hume is one of the most inspirational Irish figures in our country's history.

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"When the violence and intransigence of others was wounding hope and ruining lives, John stood up to keep the hope of peace and democratic sharing alive.

"John achieved economic wonders by securing jobs and investment for Derry in dark years when armed groups shot business leaders, blew up businesses and infrastructure, and disrupted trade regularly.

"He took risks and made sacrifices in democratic politics when it offered no rewards or personal prospects.

"In the words associated with the SDLP's late, great friend, Edward Kennedy, he "did not bend with the wind or break with the waves".

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"No party leader gave more to delivering the agreed Ireland reached on Good Friday 1998 than John Hume.

"He has been rightly honoured and recognised internationally for his contribution to civil rights, equality, justice and peace.

"John's huge contribution provided us with the platform to build a better future.

"As an expression of appreciation for the service, leadership and inspiration which John has offered the people of this city, throughout this island and internationally, I would urge them to vote for John via the website www.rte.ie/tv/irelandsgreatest/."

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Mr Hume is up against thirty-nine other individuals some living and some dead.

In alphabetical order these are Bono, Noel Browne, Michael Collins, James Connolly, Eamon de Valera, Joe Dolan, Ronnie Drew, Colin Farrell, Garret FitzGerald, Stephen Gately, Bob Geldof, Pdraig Harrington, Charles Haughey, Samus Heaney, James Joyce, John B. Keane, Roy Keane, Ronan Keating, Sen Lemass, Jack Lynch, Phil Lynott, Paul McGrath, Christy Moore, Liam Neeson, Daniel O'Connell, Daniel O'Donnell, Brian O'Driscoll, Michael O'Leary, John O'Shea, Sonia O'Sullivan, Charles Stewart Parnell, Pdraig Pearse, Christy Ring, Mary Robinson, Adi Roche, Wolfe Tone, Louis Walsh, Oscar Wilde, WB Yeats.

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