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Former SDLP leaders John Hume and Austin Currie are to be jointly honoured for their role in the Northern Ireland civil rights movement.

They will receive an award at the Humbert Summer School in Co Mayo later this month.

The ceremony in Ballina on August 21st is timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the first marches held by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association.

Nationalist protestors at a banned demonstration in Derry in 1968 were baton-charged by the RUC and TV pictures were beamed around the world to shocked audiences.

Two days of rioting in nationalist areas of Derry followed before the unionist-dominated government announced a series of reforms to help end discrimination against nationalists in public services and other areas.

Humbert Summer School director John Cooney said Mr Hume and Mr Currie both worked through the difficult times of paramilitary violence to lay the foundations of peace.

“They are two leaders of our time whose contribution to the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland has never been fully recognised,” Mr Cooney added. “They made many selfless sacrifices for the cause including putting their lives and the lives of their families at risk.”

Mr Hume and Mr Currie will each receive an especially-commissioned Humbert Human Rights Award sculpture by Co Mayo-based French craftsman Henri Hedou.

Speakers at the 22nd Humbert Summer School, which will focus on current social and political issues, include Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, Labour deputy leader Joan Burton,  Fianna Fáil TD Mary O’Rourke, Cori chief executive Fr Sean Healy and former Government press secretary PJ Mara.

The Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Sean Brady is also due to give a keynote address in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland cathedral in nearby Killala.

The summer school commemorates French republican General Jean Joseph Humbert who sailed to Co Mayo with 1,100 soldiers during the 1798 Rebellion.

PA