The Irishman who convinced America to care about peace — with a little help from Bono.
John Hume saw that by harnessing the political influence of the Irish American diaspora in Washington, it was possible to overcome the legacy of conflict and achieve peace. Exploring the decades-long campaign by the Nobel Prize winner, filmmaker Maurice Fitzpatrick reveals how Hume - inspired by Martin Luther King - became the moral architect for peace in Northern Ireland. In the Name of Peace: John Hume in America is a compelling feature documentary, narrated by Liam Neeson, with dramatic footage and stirring interviews with Presidents Clinton and Carter, US senators and congressmen, and Irish and British leaders. Reminding us of the redemptive powers of politics to overcome division. It is a timely story that profiles creative leadership, international cooperation and the U.S. contribution to peace and stability on the island of Ireland.
Direction
Fitzpatrick weaves archival gold with intimate presidential access.
Writing
Neeson's narration turns policy into poetry—no small feat.
Director
Maurice Fitzpatrick
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Hume made over 100 trips to Washington across three decades, often sleeping in congressional offices to save money—grassroots diplomacy at its most exhausted.
The documentary's 2017 release was deliberately timed to counter rising Brexit tensions, with Hume himself appearing frail but resolute in final interviews before his 2020 death.
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