Peace award for Kennedy siblings

The late US Senator Ted Kennedy and his sister Jean Kennedy Smith were today named as the recipients of a prestigious peace prize…

The late US Senator Ted Kennedy and his sister Jean Kennedy Smith were today named as the recipients of a prestigious peace prize.

They were chosen by the Tipperary International Peace Award for their reconciliation work in Northern Ireland and across the world.

Senator Kennedy, who passed away in August aged 77, and Mrs Kennedy Smith (81) join a list of previous winners that includes Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton and Sir Bob Geldof.

Announcing the award, organisers paid tribute to the Boston-born pair.

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"Senator Edward Kennedy is being honoured for his courageous leadership for peace, human rights, and nuclear disarmament," a statement said.

"Jean Kennedy Smith is being honoured for all she did to enable future generations, regardless of their background, to share in Ireland's promising future."

The formal presentation ceremony will be held in Ballykisteen, Co Tipperary later this year.

The last surviving child of Rose and Joseph Kennedy, Mrs Kennedy Smith spent five years as Ambassador to Ireland after being nominated by former president Clinton in 1993.

Her younger brother Ted, a senator for his home state of Massachusetts for more than 46 years, was intricately involved in Northern Irish politics during and beyond the Belfast Agreement.

He was also a keen campaigner for nuclear disarmament and long supported the abolition of nuclear weapons.