The conferral of the Tipperary International Peace Award on His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar is a powerful recognition of his country’s growing influence in global diplomacy. It acknowledges Qatar’s pivotal role in mediating complex conflicts; from the U.S.–Taliban talks to Gaza ceasefires, and affirms The Prime Minister’s leadership as a principled and effective peacemaker. The award not only enhances Qatar’s international credibility but also highlights Ireland’s role in recognising non-traditional paths to peace. It represents a landmark recognition of a small state’s outsized impact on international peace and diplomacy.
The prestigious Tipperary International Peace Award, long associated with figures like Nelson Mandela, Mary Robinson, Malala Yousafzai and Ban Ki-moon, celebrates individuals and institutions that have made exceptional contributions to global peace, justice, and humanitarian dialogue.
In honouring His Excellency, Tipperary signals that meaningful diplomacy, even from small nations, can shape a more just and peaceful world. It has demonstrated that His Excellency as a diplomatic figure of substance and integrity. This award acknowledges not just his personal efforts, but Qatar’s broader commitment to conflict resolution, humanitarian aid, and open dialogue.
The conferral of this award is also significant in symbolising Ireland’s recognition of inclusive and diverse pathways to peace. In selecting a Gulf leader who combines Islamic values with progressive diplomacy, the Tipperary Peace Convention affirms the universal nature of peacebuilding; one that transcends culture, religion, and geography. For Tipperary and Ireland, it is a reaffirmation of our nation’s proud tradition of promoting peace and human rights on the world stage. There is a poem titled “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” written by William Butler Yeats in 1888, “And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow”, and that is really the case with this Award. The awarding of the P.M. with the Tipperary International Peace Award is more than ceremonial, it’s a strong acknowledgment of Qatar’s increasingly influential role in global diplomacy and humanitarian peace work. It enhances Qatar’s soft power, validates its foreign-policy direction, and amplifies its voice on the international stage.
A profound honour is extended across continents — to the Gulf shores of Qatar. The Tipperary International Peace Award, forged in the spirit of justice and human dignity, will now rest with Your Excellency, a statesman whose diplomacy speaks not through force, but through bridges built in silence and patience. In a world fractured by conflict and distrust, Your Excellency has stood as a steady hand, guiding dialogue where others closed doors, offering sanctuary to conversation in times of war. Whether amid the dust of Gaza, the shadows of Kabul, or the anxious stillness of hostage rooms, your voice has been one of calm resolve, showing balance, discretion, and unwavering commitment through the darkest of hours.
The award’s conferral is more than a ceremony; it is a quiet affirmation that peace belongs not only to the powerful, but to the persistent and that small nations, with vision and integrity, can guide giants toward accord. That an Irish town, once known for marching songs during the World War, now honours those who do not march to war, but march towards peace and understanding.
And so, from Tipperary to Doha, this honour carries a message: that peace has many tongues, many roots, and many paths — and in this path Your Excellency, the world has found not just a mediator, but a messenger of hope.
