Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I first met John Hume back in 1972 at the funeral of my brother-in-law, Mr. Jack McCabe. Mr. Hume inspired us in those days and in the days that followed, particularly during the power-sharing executive and the UWC strike, to which Senator Maurice Hayes referred. He still inspires us today. We were particularly struck when he spoke of spilling one's sweat, rather than spilling one's blood.

I asked a Japanese friend of mine how he succeeded.

He gave me a quote which I always remember: "Whether you believe you can or whether you believe you can't, you're right." He played tennis and he said if he went into a match and thought he could not beat his opponent, he was right, and if he went in thinking he could win, he was also right. What John Hume has done through the years tells us he believes he can. He has proved this because he has been determined and courageous and he has achieved his goal. I hope, in his retirement, he will continue to inspire us towards the goals he has set.