Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume was voted the greatest person in Irish history by a massive public vote on the top rated ‘Late Late Show’ program.
Hume , 73, from Derry, is the former leader of the SDLP party in Northern Ireland. He is Ireland’s Martin Luther King figure who was inspired by his non-violence message and went on to play a huge role in the Irish peace process that brought a stable peace to Northern Ireland. He won a Nobel Prize for his work
The final five figures were Michael Collins, James Connolly, Bono, Mary Robinson and John Hume. These five were selected by an initial public vote from a list of 40 Irish figures who topped a national survey.
Over the past five weeks the five shortlisted figures have been profiled in a series of documentaries created by RTE (Ireland’s national broadcaster). Each documentary was presented by a different Irish public figure who championed one of the five shortlisted Irish great. Former Progressive Democrats leader Michael McDowell took on Michael Collins, for RTÉ’s Joe Duffy it was James Connolly, Irish radio personality Dave Fanning spoke about Bono, economist David McWilliams championed Mary Robinson and presenter Miriam O’Callaghan spoke for John Hume.
The shortlist cause quite a public debate surrounding the lack of historic figures on the list. Historian Tim Pat Coogan questioned why Michael Davitt, Charles Stewart Parnell, Daniel O’Connell and James Joyce were not on the shortlist.
Diarmaid Ferriter, a University College of Dublin history professor also questioned the absence of James Joyce, WB Yeats, Samual Becket and Bernard Shaw from the list. He questioned how any historian could take the poll seriously.
Controversial and irritating as some might have found the TV show and the poll, an average of 318,400 people tuned in to watch the documentaries.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Searlit | Oct 25, 2010, 12:05 PM EDT
I like what OGeibhnnaigh and yorkville are saying.
killowen | Oct 24, 2010, 10:31 PM EDT
Will you look at the gob on that one - sly as a fox fence sitter supremo.
Medrano1025 | Oct 24, 2010, 09:49 PM EDT
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warrenpoint00 | Oct 24, 2010, 09:28 PM EDT
If I remember correctly John Hume and his cronies Fitt, Cooper, Currie and Co in the labour/sdlp party ALL swore allegiance to a foreign Queen who claimed soverignity by terrorism of a nationalist population in the occcupied six counties of Ireland.How could he possibilly be voted the greatest IRISHMAN ever.WHAT A JOKE.
killowen | Oct 24, 2010, 07:35 PM EDT
Hume, greatest person in Irish history must be some kind of joke. Niall of the Nine Hostages who brought St. Patrick as a slave to Ireland has to be rated number uno. Doing a proper assessment as to what Niall contributed one can arrive at a similar conclusion. Even the DNA that he is credited with sharing with me and millions of others is proof enough. What is known about Hume whose peace efforts led to the status quo. The same, business as usual apartheid solution. Their Royals never allowing RC into the club of Hanover(Windsor since 21). Without St. Patrick emboldening a people the partial Ireland that currently appears to be, would be easily incorporated as like Wales, thrown a Prince of Ireland crumb - and fully reformed to fit. The way I see it Hume paved the way for QE visit and Ms McAleese's presidency.
OGeibhnnaigh | Oct 24, 2010, 06:42 PM EDT
I have met and talked with John Hume-- and I think him to be a bright, decent, fellow and an important person in recent Irish history. I have also met both Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams--- spent a couple of hours with Gerry Adams. Both of these men I give the same profile that I gave to Hume. Because of the life risks they have taken to achieve what "peace" we have in the 32 at present, on the modern front, I'd have to tip my caipín to those two-- and lean in the direction of Adams. That said, where's the likes of Boru, O'Connell,Red Hugh, of all the crowd that literally held back the tide of oppression and foreign hegemony??? Is the panel blind to the long view??? If so, God please help Ireland. Raphe Ó Géibheannaigh
yorkville | Oct 24, 2010, 05:58 PM EDT
I have total respect for John Hume, but i agree that Gerry Adams should have been voted greatest Irish person.I grew up in the troubles and remember all too well the relentless debates on Tv, between paisley, Hume. Gerry fit!! Gerry Adams wasnt even allowed to take part, when he was interviewed his voice was dubbed and an actors voice used, such a farce, He is an incredibly intelligent man, a great speaker and leader. Someone had to fight for our rights, thats why we elected him, we want a better life for our children, so they dont have to be hassled by british soldiers and cops, its a long road and the troubles are not over by a long shot, almost daily there are treats by dissidents and we the people here do not want to go back to those horrific times. I wish we could all live in peace, respect and tolorence of each other.
oldboreen | Oct 24, 2010, 05:52 PM EDT
No thinking Irish person should take the 'Greatest Person in Irish History' poll seriously.It was nothing more than light entertainment and does RTE no credit at all. Frankly, Irish Central, I'm surprised you gave it space!
Ernesider | Oct 24, 2010, 05:33 PM EDT
James Connolly beaten by John Hume RIDICULOUS. Why wasn't Tomas Mac Gullaigh (incorrect spelling) on the original list and let me think a bit more .... was Roger Casement, Mick O'Connel, Red Hugh O'Donnell, Daniel O'Donnell, on it.
mylesie | Oct 24, 2010, 11:40 AM EDT
A Papal peerage (Count John Hume as in John McCormack) YES but not unfortunately for Ireland's Greatest Person.
Siobhan39 | Oct 24, 2010, 09:57 AM EDT
Didn't you have an article here a month or so ago naming Michael Collins Ireland's Greatest Person ever in a pole conducted by RTE, Ireland's national television station?
Niamhaine | Oct 24, 2010, 09:39 AM EDT
Couldn't choose between three- Robinson, Collins, or Hume. Fair play to you, John Hume, for the recognition you so richly deserve. As for the comments about the violence in NI not being over...someone has to take the first step to stop the nonsense.
danielleryan | Oct 24, 2010, 09:04 AM EDT
Wanted Mary Robinson to win. :(
Cratloeman | Oct 24, 2010, 06:28 AM EDT
As I always have had the greatest respect for John Hume and the fantastic contribution he made for peace and justice to Northern Ireland, but Ireland's greatest not really, that accolade had only one name and that is Michael Collins. I fear Ireland does not teach history like it used to.
StevieVirginia | Oct 24, 2010, 03:10 AM EDT
The front man to the greatest band in the world over the last 25 years. He's Irish. Plus, his good will message and effort to help the 3rd world... Please. Yes, you do add Bono to this list.
jacersagain | Oct 23, 2010, 04:29 PM EDT
The poll shows just how fickle we modern Irish can be. Bono in the ‘top five’??? Somebody was kidding, making entertainment (or ‘takin the piss’ as we Irish say here) by including him at all in the top 50 list. Personally I went for Mary Robinson because the way she used her position as President of Ireland to proclaim and fight for human rights world-wide was right up the Irish people’s street. John Hume was my second choice but on balance I think John deserved it. Congratulations to him on winning the vote and my eternal thanks to him that he did so much for peace in our country.
citizen69 | Oct 23, 2010, 01:13 PM EDT
Well done John! Non-violence is the only way to bring about peace in the North of Ireland! Violence only breeds more violence in a divided community.
irishimport | Oct 23, 2010, 12:40 PM EDT
He deserved it !
haikued2 | Oct 23, 2010, 10:59 AM EDT
Was the pole Nation wide on both sides of the border? Was it in any way scientific? Was it skewed a bit toward the North?
ellenfromcork | Oct 23, 2010, 09:39 AM EDT
Wasn't it great to have something to talk (argue) about besides the mess we're in.