05/12/2025
European Parliament Ambassador School Cross-Border Event on Peacebuilding and Reconciliation in John Hume’s hometown, Derry/Londonderry
The European Parliament Liaison Offices in the UK and Ireland co-organised a three-day cross-border event for European Parliament Ambassador Schools (EPAS) from 1–3 December 2025 in the city of Derry/Londonderry. Under the theme “Peacebuilding and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Legacy of John Hume”, around 100 students and teachers from Ireland and Northern Ireland gathered at the historic Guildhall. The event was co-organised with the John and Pat Hume Foundation and the NI Youth Forum.
The programme included welcome addresses and the screening of an archival video of John Hume, ice-breaker activities, workshops on disinformation and democratic participation by the Norther Ireland Youth Forum, a high-level roundtable on EU–Northern Ireland relations with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and political figures, a presentation on the importance of democratic participation of young people by Stephen Clark, Director of European Parliament Liaison Offices, school presentations, a talk by former Mayor Cllr Lilian Seenoi-Barr, a youth panel on peacebuilding with the NI Youth Forum and Youth Action Northern Ireland, guided tours at the Guildhall, in the city and in the Derry Girls Museum, Cèili music and Irish dance performance by the Conomy Bradley Doherty Academy School of Dance School featuring, among others, Fae McCrudden, U’13 World Champion. The event closed with certificate presentations and final reflections.
Participating European Parliament Ambassador schools
From Ireland:
Our Lady of Mercy College, Beaumont, Dublin 9
St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal
Edmund Rice Secondary School, Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary
College of the Immaculate Conception Summerhill, Slig0
Errigal College, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
From Northern Ireland:
Belfast Boys’ Model School
Strangford Integrated College, Carrowdore, Newtownards
Mercy College Belfast
St Colman’s High and Sixth Form College, Ballynahinch
Participating guest schools:
Oakgrove Integrated College, Derry/Londonderry
