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Bust of David Trimble unveiled in Irish parliament

PA Lord Trimble's widow Daphne stands beside his bustPA
Lord Trimble's widow Daphne attended the unveiling

A bust of Lord Trimble has been unveiled in Dublin to mark 25 years since he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with John Hume.

The bronze sculpture was unveiled at Leinster House, the seat of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament), by Ceann Comhairle (Speaker) Seán Ó Fearghaíl.

Lord Trimble and Mr Hume were jointly awarded the prize for their roles in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement.

A bust of Mr Hume was unveiled at Leinster House earlier in 2022 to mark the 25th anniversary of the peace deal, which ended the worst of the conflict known as the Troubles.

Lord Trimble's wife, Lady Daphne, was present, along with their daughter Vicky, son Nicholas and his wife Sarah, when the bust, by sculptor John Sherlock, was unveiled.

Members of the Hume and Sherlock families were also in attendance as well as former Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern, former Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Mike Nesbitt and former UUP MP Lady Hermon.

PA Lord Trimble's widow, Daphne, and their daughter Vicky and son Nicholas, at the unveilingPA
Lord Trimble's widow, Daphne, and their daughter Vicky and son Nicholas, at the unveiling

Lord Trimble, who died aged 77 in 2022, led the UUP between 1995 and 2005.

He was the first person to serve in the role of first minister in the new Northern Ireland Executive, which was established as part of the peace deal.

Lord Trimble first served alongside nationalist politician Seamus Mallon after Mr Hume - who was a founding member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) - handed his party colleague the position of deputy first minister.

Getty Images Trimble and Hume joined U2's Bono on stage during a special concert in Belfast to promote the "Yes" vote in the peace referendum in 1998Getty Images
Trimble (left) and Hume joined U2's Bono on stage during a special concert in Belfast to promote the "Yes" vote in the peace referendum in 1998

'A great Ulsterman'

Mr Ó Fearghaíl said the sculpture would act "as a constant reminder of his commitment to peace".

"We are honouring a great Ulsterman, a courageous politician, and a dedicated peacemaker," he added, following the unveiling of the bust of Mr Hume, who he described as "another courageous politician and dedicated peacemaker".

He said they "through dogged and gritty determination" delivered a "political breakthrough" that ended the violence and gave Northern Ireland self-government on a cross-community basis.

“It is fitting that we in the Houses of the Oireachtas should thank and honour both men for their contribution to peace and stability on our shared island.”