Tipperary Peace Convention announces 2025 award nominees

Tipperary’s Peace Convention has announced the shortlist of nominees for the 2025 Tipperary International Peace Award, one of Ireland’s most prestigious honours recognising outstanding contributions to peace, justice, and humanity.

The announcement was made on Friday, December 12, at the ‘Reflections for Christmas’ event held at the Tipperary Excel Centre in Tipperary Town, where reflections, readings, poetry, and music were shared with a special emphasis on peace and goodwill.

Secretary of the Tipperary Peace Convention, Martin Quinn, revealed the nominees from across the world for their “inspiring work in advancing peace and human dignity.”

The award — first presented in 1984 as a local initiative to highlight peace efforts and counter the association of Tipperary with war — celebrates individuals and organisations whose life-work embodies compassion, courage, and the relentless pursuit of justice.

Over its history, the award has honoured global figures and movements that have shaped the course of peacebuilding across continents.

This year’s shortlist honours a diverse range of peacemakers whose contributions, from grassroots humanitarian efforts to international dialogue and advocacy, reflect “the enduring belief that peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, understanding, and compassion,” said Mr Quinn.

The nominee list includes leading voices and organisations working across multiple regions and contexts. The selection committee will now begin its deliberations as to the 2025 recipient, which will be announced in 2026, with the presentation to take place in Tipperary.

The Tipperary Peace Convention extends its gratitude to all those who submitted nominations. “Each nominee testifies to the power of individual and collective action in building a more just and peaceful world,” said Mr Quinn.

The shortlisted nominees for the 2025 Tipperary International Peace Award include the following candidates:

Blinne Nessa Áine Ní Ghrálaigh KC is an Irish lawyer who has worked in England and Ireland. She specialises in human rights and international law. As an international human rights lawyer she has participated in cases such as Croatia–Serbia genocide case (2015), Colston Four trial (2020) and South Africa’s genocide case against Israel (2023).

Fr Brendan Meagher, a Tipperary native, lives and works amongst the poorest of the poor in Fortaleza, Brazil, where he has worked as a Redemptorist priest for the past 38 years. During the 1981 Hunger Strike he was code-named ‘The Angel’ and was the go between the Republican Movement and the British Government.

Jody Williams is an American political activist known for her work in banning anti-personnel landmines and her defence of human rights, especially women’s rights. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for her work toward the banning and clearing of anti-personnel mines.

Sonja Licht is a Serbian internationally renowned sociologist and human rights and political activist. She is currently president of the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence.

Shannonwatch is a group of peace and human rights activists based in the mid-west of Ireland. Its objectives are to end the US military use of Shannon Airport and to obtain accountability for its complicity in war, war crimes and human rights abuse.

Giles Duley is a photojournalist and war casualty. He is CEO of Legacy of War Foundation, and a photographer, writer, chef and presenter. His work focuses on the long-term humanitarian impact of conflict and in 2022 was announced as the first United Nations Global Advocate for Persons with Disabilities in Conflict and Peacebuilding Settings.

Francesca Albanese is an Italian legal scholar and expert on human rights who has served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories since 1 May 2022. Initially appointed for a three-year term, Albanese was confirmed for another three years in April 2025. She is the first woman to hold the position.