The Union of Students in Ireland was saddened today to learn of the passing of Ciarán McKeown, former USI President and co-founder of the Northern Ireland Peace People.
His creativity in inclusive activism was evident in his development of the 1976 Peace People’s Declaration and the organisation’s series of enormous cross-community rallies across Ireland and the UK – rallies which have been inspirational to the student movement and peace movements around the world ever since. Ciarán’s work to delegitimise violence, promote intercommunity solidarity across sectarian lines and seek to unite people of good will in pursuit of peace is as shining a testament to his values as can be imagined. We know that those values can guide us and others in the pursuit of peace.
Our thoughts are with his children, family and friends today.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.