September 16, 2020
It was my privilege to share inspiring time with John and Pat Hume during the Christmas Season of 1984 while I was on a reconnaissance mission in Ireland preparing for a planned two week Irish Forum trip to learn about the Northern Ireland conflict.
In the spring of 1985 our group of 24 doctors, attorneys, educators and civic volunteers, led by Forum founding President Dr. Robert Branick, was accompanied by the award-winning NBC KRON TV camera crew of Evan White and Craig Franklin.
It was precisely because Irish Forum had provided fair platforms in California, despite frequent fierce oppositions, for over 50 diverse, often controversial guest speakers from Ireland, Britain and the US over the previous four years that we were able to meet with a wide range of authentic and authoritative individuals in Northern Ireland, many who would not talk with one another. Samuel Bartlett, US Consul General in Belfast noted that the Forum schedule involved the widest spectrum of critical viewpoints he had ever seen.
After having interviewed and filmed principal conflict protagonists in Belfast, including Andy Tyrie, Chair of the Ulster Defense Association, Reverend Ian Paisley, Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party and Gerry Adams, President of Sinn Fein, our delegation met and filmed John Hume of the Social Democratic Labor Party in Derry City on March 3.
John and Pat Hume made us feel at home. They were both good teachers when they shared their dream of a just settlement for the Northern Ireland conflict. John stated that he had been strongly inspired by the American Civil Rights Movement and Martin Luther King Jr. in 1969. John often quoted Rev. King’s passionate use of the maxim “An eye for an eye leaves everybody blind”. Like our Forum, John and Pat had faith in dialogue and nonviolence.
Many of us recognized and appreciated the bridging role of the idealistic Alliance Party with their small coalition constituency adhering strictly to the tenets of dialogue and nonviolence. Alliance also made us feel very welcome.
On return to San Francisco, NBC affiliate KRON TV Channel 4 broadcast coverage of the educational Forum trip over a 2 week period.
John Hume had traveled frequently to the US East Coast and had become a voice of hope to several US Congressional leaders and others.
After a May 19, 1985 Commencement Address by John at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, where he was introduced by Senator Ted Kennedy,
Irish Forum brought John for his first public appearances in San Francisco and the Bay Area to present the opportunity for direct communication in the Western USA of the constitutional approach of the minority Catholic community in Northern Ireland. The SDLP, led by John Hume, was committed to nonviolent change in Northern Ireland. The Sinn Fein ethos of justified armed struggle was then the predominant approach by activists in the San Francisco Bay Area Irish community regarding Northern Ireland.
The Forum’s Wednesday May 29, 1985 schedule for John was as follows:
Meet with broad press for breakfast in San Francisco.
Address the community in Sacramento at an Irish Forum lunch, introduced by historian and California legislative aide John Delury.
Address the community at the University of Santa Clara, introduced by scholar and San Jose Mayor Tom McEnery, who was a friend and collaborator with John over the years.
Address the community in San Francisco at the St. Francis Hotel Irish Forum dinner, introduced by Congresswoman Sala Burton, US Delegate to the North Atlantic Assembly.
John proclaimed to all “The essence of Unity is acceptance of Diversity”.
John bonded with many, including Justice William Newsom, President of Irish Forum, Kathleen Ryan, Civic Leader, Ray O’Flaherty, Industrial Development, David Strand, Democratic Party activist and Tom Jordan, American Ireland Fund.
John went forth in the community and media, speaking on public radio.
During the summers of 1984 and 1986, my wife, Ute, Chair of the Art Department at San Domenico School, San Anselmo, CA, lived in the Derry Bogside, down the Street from the Humes. Ute taught art and graphic design of posters & handbills to youth from across the social, political and religious divide at the non-sectarian Derry Inner City Trust of “Bogside Paddy” Doherty. One souvenir of the “Troubles” Ute brought home is a 4 inch hard rubber bullet shot by British troops and hitting a colleague marching in a Bogside civil rights demonstration.
In 1987 Irish Forum made another 2 week Northern Ireland conflict fact finding trip, starting at the seat of power in London, and for greater perspective on to Cardiff, Birmingham, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, Derry, Dublin and Cork City. We were pleased to meet John and Pat Hume again and learn more about ongoing political efforts among many parties.
In 1991 John and Pat Hume were brought to San Francisco by William Vincent, Kevin Mallen and Maryon Davies Lewis of the American Ireland Fund.
John and Pat’s schedule included:
January 30, St.Thomas More Award to John Hume at the University of San Francisco with public lecture by John, “Conflict, Diversity and Peace”.
January 31, reception for John Hume and public lecture by John at the United Irish Cultural Center, sponsored by the Irish Consulate with Belfast man Consul General John Rowan introducing John.
February 1, luncheon for John at the Pacific Union Club, sponsored by William Vincent.
Reception for John at residence of Maryon Davies Lewis.
February 2, “Meet John Hume” reception for John and Pat to meet elected officials, Irish Forum members and Immigration Reform Movement advocates, hosted by Paul and Nancy Pelosi at their residence with Honorary Co-Chairs Congresswomen Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Boxer, sponsored by Irish Forum.
In 1995 the “Dove of Peace Award” was presented to John Hume in San Jose by Tom McEnery, Mayor of San Jose.
In 1996 “John Hume, A New Ireland” book reception at San Francisco Press Club sponsored by publisher Roberts Rinehart and Conor Howard, Ana Livia Books.
In 1999 – John Hume celebrated the 1998 Good Friday Agreement for peace in Northern Ireland by singing “Danny Boy” at President Bill Clinton’s March 17
St. Patrick’s Day Party at the White House. The US Military officer standing next to me almost shed a tear.
In 2000 Ute and I traveled home to visit cousins in Mayo and Galway and were then blessed to be guests of John and Pat Hume for a quiet rendezvous at La Sosta Restaurant in Derry City. Even as John’s health was beginning to fail, John and Pat were earnestly supporting charity and encouraging reconciliation.
In 2005 Irish Forum made a 20 year anniversary Forum educational trip to Ireland and observed peace and progress in policing, employment, housing, transportation, health care, education, sports, government, ecumenicism and culture. A highlight was an informal reunion dinner with John and Pat Hume in their hometown of Derry resonating with John’s favorite song by Phil Coulter, “The Town I Loved so well”.
John and Pat Hume touched the souls of diverse Irish, British, Americans and millions beyond.
Rest in true Peace, John Hume, Nobel Peace Laureate
- J. Patrick Goggins, Irish Forum
Comments are closed.