Warrington Male Voice Choir And The Tipperary International Peace Award 

Ireland’s prestigious Tipperary International Peace Award marks its 25th anniversary in 2009 and will be announced on New Year’s Day.  The Peace Award was founded in 1984 when Irish politician and diplomat Sean McBride received the prize.  The aim of the Award is to give recognition to those who promote the ideals of peace and peaceful co-operation both in Ireland and abroad.  Over the past years, the prize has been awarded to a range of peacemakers. Some have taken centre stage, others have worked behind the scenes in brokering peace accords under the most difficult of circumstances.

Previous recipients include former world leaders Mikhail Gorbachev, Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela, Live-Aid organiser Bob Geldorf, Irish Senator Gordon Wilson, US Senator George Mitchell, Archbishop of Armagh Robin Eames, New York Mayor Rudi Giuliani, murdered aid worker Margaret Hassan, and Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto.  The Warrington Male Voice Choir was honoured to have been nominated for the 2008 Award for its vision, perseverance and example over fifteen years in promoting hope and reconciliation in Northern Ireland in the face of disillusion and despair. 

Choir Patron, Terry Waite CBE said: “The Choir persisted with their campaign for peace through the most difficult of days and in the process won many friends and encouraged people not to lose heart but to continue to work for peace. It is impossible to measure what effect they had but the testimony of many points to the fact that they had a profound impact and made a vital contribution towards healing.  I have no hesitation whatsoever in supporting the Choir for this award.”