Queen’s University Belfast: Queen’s commission Lord Trimble portrait

Queen’s University have commissioned a portrait of Northern Ireland’s former First Minister and Nobel Laureate Lord Trimble today to hang in the University’s Great Hall.

The painting, which will be completed by world renowned local artist and honorary graduate Colin Davidson, will sit alongside notable Queen’s alumni such as Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney, former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, honorary graduate Baroness May Blood and former Chancellor Senator George J. Mitchell.

A former Queen’s student, member of staff and one of the university’s two Nobel Laureates, Lord Trimble is a former First Minister and Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, who played a key role in the talks that lead to the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement.

The President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University, Professor Ian Greer said: “Lord Trimble has a longstanding link to the university, having lectured in law for 21 years. He has also made a notable contribution to politics and the peace process in Northern Ireland, reflected in the joint award of the Nobel Peace Prize alongside John Hume, it is fitting that we recognise him in this appropriate manner.”

In addition, the university has announced a new annual lecture which will be known as the Lord David Trimble lecture, the first of which will be delivered by Professor Lord Paul Bew, a Professor Emeritus in Politics at Queen’s, later this year. The date has yet to be announced.

Lord Bew said: “It will be an honour to undertake the inaugural Lord David Trimble lecture. Both Lord Trimble and I have longstanding affiliations with Queen’s, having begun our careers decades ago at the University, and it is fitting that he has come full circle to where his journey as a public figure began.”