Mowlam gets top Irish accolade

Mo Mowlam is quitting politics next year

Former Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam has received a standing ovation after being named as Ireland's International Person of the Year.

She received the honour from deputy Irish premier Mary Harney at a ceremony in Dublin on Tuesday night.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern both praised Ms Mowlam and the work she did for peace in the province before leaving the job.

She was a perfect example of the non-stereotypical British secretary of state for Northern Ireland

Prime Minister Tony Blair

A formal citation said she had received the award her "enormous contribution to the quest for peace in this island".

Ms Mowlam, who has signalled her intention to quit politics at the next general election, was praised for her "courage, charisma and honesty in the crucial period that led up to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement" in 1998.

The citation added: "Her role in presiding over unprecedented change in Northern Ireland was all the more remarkable, given that she was recovering from serious illness in the early part of her term as Northern secretary."

In a recorded tribute, Mr Blair said: "I cannot think of a better recipient for the award than Mo.

"Without her, the Good Friday Agreement would never have come about - she made a huge contribution to that.

"She was a perfect example of the non-stereotypical British secretary of state for Northern Ireland.

"I think she won over a lot of people's hearts and minds and therefore made difference to changing the culture of politics."

Bertie Ahern: Tribute to Ms Mowlam

Mr Ahern said that Ms Mowlam would always have a "very special place in the hearts of the Irish people".

"It was great to work so closely with Mo", he said."This is a very special award for a very special person."

Ms Mowlam was applauded for almost a minute by a 300-strong audience after receiving the award.

She paid tribute to Northern Ireland First Minister and Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble as well as Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon, of the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party.

She added: "This will remind me of the times I spent on this island. This means a hell of a lot to me."

Ms Mowlam was one of seven winners to be honoured at Ireland's annual People of The Year awards, sponsored by Ireland's Electricity Supply Board power company and the Rehab organisation, which aids people with disabilities.

The top domestic prize went to writer Maeve Binchy for her "outstanding achievements over many years as a novelist, playwright and journalist".

The winners were chosen by a panel of national and regional newspapers from both sides of the Irish border, together with representatives of the BBC and Ireland's RTE broadcasting network.