The Minister of State at the Department of Transport with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney, T.D., was in Tipperary Town on Tuesday July 29th, to launch a new website for Tipperary Peace Convention. The launch took place at the Tipperary Town Library and the Minister was welcomed to the centre by Martin Quinn and John Shanahan, of Tipperary Peace Convention, by the Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council, Cllr John Carroll and the Cathaoirleach of the Tipperary Cahir Cashel Municipal District, Cllr Roger Kennedy, by Deputies Michael Murphy and Mattie McGrath and by Catherine Fogarty, Manager of Tipperary Town Library.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister, expressed his thanks for the invitation to perform the launch of the website. “It’s a real pleasure to be here with you in Tipperary Town for this important occasion. Thanks to County Cathaoirleach Cllr John Carroll and MD Cathaoirleach Cllr Roger Kennedy for their remarks and Martin Quinn for his powerful speech. It’s great to see esteemed guests here also, including the Honorary Vice Consul of Spain Ms. Brenda Curran Haughey, local Deputies, Councillors, representatives of Tipperary County Council, LEADER, Muintir na Tíre and An Garda Siochána. Since its foundation in 1983, the Tipperary Peace Convention has stood as a unique and powerful voice for peace — not only in Ireland, but globally. The Tipperary International Peace Award, first presented in 1984 to Seán MacBride, has become a symbol of moral courage, diplomacy, and humanitarian leadership. Most recently, the 2024 award was presented to the Prime Minister of Qatar, who personally travelled to Tipperary with a delegation — a reflection of the international esteem in which this award is held. Today marks another milestone for Tipperary Peace Convention — the launch of a brand-new website. This platform will not only showcase the proud history of the award but also help reach new audiences. My sincere congratulations to Alan Manning, the website designer, for his excellent work in bringing this vision to life. I know Tipperary County Council and TASK Community Care have provided support to get the website up and running, also, thanks to Tipperary Town Library Service for allowing the Library to be used for the launch. Well done to the entire committee of Tipperary Peace Convention – they are a reminder that in today’s world, where we witness so much division, they can also be a place where peace is celebrated and promoted. I declare the website formally launched” concluded the Minister.
Martin Quinn addressed the launch and said that the website was more than a technological upgrade. “It is the unveiling of a space — a platform — where the values we hold dear are made visible to the world. A place where the voices of those who have dedicated their lives to peace, justice, and human dignity will be preserved, celebrated, and shared far beyond these borders. Since its inception, the Tipperary Peace Convention has stood for something greater than ceremony. It has been a voice — sometimes a lone voice — speaking with clarity in times of confusion, and with compassion in times of cruelty. Year after year, we have honoured those who have lived the values of nonviolence, reconciliation, and human rights — not from the safety of distance, but often from the frontlines of struggle. This new website becomes the permanent home of these stories. It invites the world to learn from their journeys — to reflect, to question, and to be inspired. But it does more than that. It says something about Tipperary itself — about the kind of county, and the kind of people, who believe that a rural Irish community can speak with moral authority on the global stage. And today, that voice is needed more than ever. Because peace is not just about ending wars. It is about building understanding. It is about the kind of education, empathy, and awareness that leads people to reject hatred and embrace humanity. This website will be a space where that work can continue — where the message of Tipperary can travel farther than ever before” concluded Martin.
The Tipperary Peace Convention website is now ‘live’ and can be accessed at
