There was a huge turnout in Tipperary town last night for the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki Moon.
Mr Ban was in Tipperary to accept the Tipperary International Peace Award which is awarded each year to people for their promotion and pursuit of peace across the globe.
At last night’s award ceremony in Tipperary, Mr Ban began with a brief welcome in the Irish language before praising the country for passing Friday’s referendum on same sex marriage.
In welcoming the result, he spoke of Ireland’s strong commitment to human rights, adding that the matter was a human rights issue.
He also spoke of how the Good Friday Agreement is seen across the world as a successful example of peace making; prompting to refer to the country as a champion of conflict-mediation and intervention.
Accepting the award in the form of a crystal dove from honorary secretary of the Tipperary International Peace Convention Martin Quinn, Mr Ban said that the award paid tribute to all who work for and within the United Nations.
The Secretary General on the UN will travel to Aras an Uachtarain later today to meet President Michael D Higgins.
