[caption id="attachment_68992" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption=" President Mary and Senator Martin McAleese at the recent inauguration of her successor, President Michael D. Higgins."]
Former Irish president Mary McAleese and her husband Senator Martin McAleese have both received a major peace award. The couple were rewarded the 2011 Tipperary International Peace Award earlier this week for World Peace Day.
The commission that awarded the prize paid tribute to the work carried out by Mr. and Mrs. McAleese across Ireland and in their attempts to forge stronger ties with Britain.
"In view of the work carried out by Mary and Martin McAleese in promoting peace and reconciliation, the Tipperary Peace Convention is delighted to announce that they are the joint recipients of the 2011 Tipperary International Peace Award," a spokesman for the convention said.
Past recipients of the prestigious peace prize include former South African President Nelson Mandela, Live Aid organiser Bob Geldof, and former U.S. President Bill Clinton.
Mrs. McAleese, who served for 14 years as president, made history last May when she played host to Queen Elizabeth II - the first British monarch to visit Ireland since independence.
"The theme of Mary McAleese's presidency was building bridges and for many people, the highlight of her two terms as was the visit of Queen Elizabeth to Ireland in May 2011, which undoubtedly was the culmination of President McAleese's long and dedicated work for reconciliation," the spokesman added.
"Along with her work for reconciliation she also used her time in office to address issues concerning justice, social equality, social inclusion and anti-sectarianism and her presidency has been a healing one for which this and future generations will be eternally grateful."
The couple were selected as winners from a shortlist of nominees including Queen Nour Al Hussein of Jordan, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former U.S. chief of protocol, Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker.
