Lord of the Dance
Third John Hume bust to be unveiled by Taoiseach in Strasbourg
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Third John Hume bust to be unveiled by Taoiseach in Strasbourg

THE TAOISEACH is to travel to Strasbourg today and tomorrow where he is set to unveil a sculpture of Nobel Laureate John Hume at the European Parliament.

Micheál Martin will join the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, in unveiling the bust later.

Mr Hume, a founding member of the SDLP, was one of the highest-profile politicians in Northern Ireland and was a key figure in the creation of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. He was also a MEP and passed away in Derry in 2020.

The bust is one of four created by Irish artist Liz O'Kane and has been donated to the European Parliament by the Irish government.

It will be installed in the parliament's new members' lounge later on Tuesday.

Two busts of Mr Hume have been already been unveiled at the Irish embassies in Washington and London, while the fourth is expected to be installed at the Irish government's Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin later this year.

Mr Martin will also meet representatives of the Council of Europe to mark Ireland's Presidency of the body from May to November of this year.

Tomorrow, the Taoiseach will address the European Parliament, reflecting on 50 years since Ireland decided to join the European Union.