The mother of the last British soldier killed by the IRA in Northern Ireland was among those honoured at the 11th annual Peace People of the Year awards in Dublin yesterday.
For Ms Rita Restorick from Nottinghamshire, whose son Stephen was shot by a sniper exactly four years ago yesterday at a checkpoint in the village of Bessbrook, Co Armagh, it was a very moving occasion.
She said her son had joined the army much against her will and it was only when he died that she began to understand the whole situation in Northern Ireland and campaign for peace through her book Death of a Soldier: A Mother's Search for Peace in Northern Ireland.
The awards were presented by the Cork-based P.E.A.C.E. movement, and previous recipients have included the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern; a former Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds; former US president Mr Bill Clinton; and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair.
Also honoured was Margaret Gibney, a 16-year-old schoolgirl from the Shankill Road who became a household name after her letter to Mr Blair urging him to commit himself to the peace process in 1997 was broadcast around the world. Later she was chosen to introduce President Clinton to the people of Belfast in 1998.
A third award was presented to Ms Margaret Mary or "Mossi" Whelan of Aughavas, Co Leitrim, for her work in organising various cross-Border activities, including the bringing together of Catholics and Protestants for prayer meetings.
Two special awards were also presented to journalists David Davin-Power of RTE and David McKittrick of the UK-based Independent for their impartial and objective coverage of events in Northern Ireland.
Presenting the awards, the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, said the recipients were ordinary people doing extraordinary things. "None of us should underestimate the power a single individual has to achieve good," she said, adding that it was important their efforts were recognised.
Mr Cecil Hurwitz, founder of P.E.A.C.E., said the awards were not given lightly. They were presented to those who had worked and were working assiduously for peace and reconciliation in Ireland, he said.