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The Tippeary Internation Peace convention had a very special weekend in June this year in presenting the International peace award to former US ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith and her sister-in-law and wife of the late senator Edward Kennedy, Victoria. Jean and her brother Edward had been jointly awarded for their "lifelong commitment towards peace in Northern Ireland and on the greater world stage.

The Tipperary Peace Convention was established in 1983 to promote peace at home and abroad. Previous recipients of the award include Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, Adi Roche, Senator George Mitchell, Archbishop Robin Eames and, last year the CLuster Munition Coalition.

Martin Quinn, secretary of the convention committee, read a message of congratulations form President McAleese and a letter from Taoiseach Brian Cowen which stated that the work of Ms Kennedy Smith and Ted Kennedy was "deeply appreciated by the people of Ireland and they and the Kennedy family will always be held in great affection and esteem by us". The Taoiseach concluded: " We are very fortunate to have such true friends".

Ms Kennedy Smith said she was "proud of the role the United States played in the peace process" and had been "privileged" to work with Albert Reynolds, Bertie Ahern and Jhn Hume whom she described as " extraordinary leaders".

She was "delighted" that her "children and grandchildren" were present. In an emotional address, Mrs Kennedy recalled her husband's love of "this country and its people" and said Ted Kennedy: " The map of Ireland was on his face, the Irish sea was in his blood and the songs of Erin were in his heart." Speaking of his career and political achievements, she described him as on of the rare and happy few who bend the course of history.

The event was attended by no more that 13 members of the Kennedy family who had travelled form the US for their largest gatherings in Ireland. Among the 200 guests were former taoisigh Albert Reynolds and Bertie Ahern, members of the Oireachtas, Nothern Ireland Assembly and European Parliament, representatives of the Gards and the Defence Forces.