Statement from Irish League of Credit Unions on the passing of past President John Hume RIP

Posted on: 03 Aug 2020

The Board, staff and members of the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our past President John Hume after a short illness. We offer our deepest sympathies to his wife Pat and their family at this sad time. 

John was one of the driving forces for the establishment of the credit union movement in Ireland and was a founding member of Derry Credit Union in 1960, Northern Ireland's first credit union. In 1964 John Hume became the youngest ever President of the ILCU aged 27 years, and served in this position until 1968. He remained involved in the credit union movement throughout his life despite the life changing peacemaking work he was involved in. In 2001, John was made a Life Director of the ILCU, only the second time this honour was bestowed, the other Life Director being Nora Herlihy, one of the founders of the ILCU.

John Hume's sense of social justice, compassion for ordinary people, and his belief in the strength of the cooperative movement was, and is, an inspiration to everyone involved in the credit union movement on the island of Ireland today. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him but his legacy will endure through the peace he created on this island and the credit union movement he helped build. 

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.