Mark Carney pays tribute to John de Chastelain in Dublin

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney lauded General John de Chastelain as a pivotal figure in forging Northern Ireland's peace process during a visit to Dublin. Speaking at the inaugural De Chastelain Public Lecture at Trinity College, Carney emphasized the general's "seminal work" in helping to implement the Good Friday Agreement.

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After a lifetime of service, General John de Chastelain’s seminal work helped forge and implement the Good Friday Agreement.

"Peace is never guaranteed. It cannot simply be signed into reality," Carney stated. "It is brokered, and built, and embodied by brave and compassionate individuals like General De Chastelain." He credited the general with imagining "better possibilities that others did not see," understanding the power of connection, obligation, and trust. Carney urged the audience to carry forward this legacy by imagining better possibilities and weaving webs of connection across borders and generations.

General de Chastelain, who headed the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD), expressed his pleasure at hearing the tribute. He humbly noted that many people were involved in the peace process, particularly the people of Ireland, North and South, who were instrumental in ending violence. "We received a lot of help," he said, acknowledging that while some opposition existed, it did not significantly hinder progress.

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Peace is never guaranteed. It cannot simply be signed into reality. It is brokered, and built, and embodied by brave and compassionate individuals like General De Chastelain.

Reflecting on the current state of affairs, General de Chastelain expressed hope that both countries are thriving politically, economically, and internationally. He described Ireland as a "wonderful place" playing an important role in the world. Later, Taoiseach Micheál Martin also described General de Chastelain as a "truly great Canadian" during an event at Dublin Castle.

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A lot of people were involved, you know – people keep saying what a wonderful job I did, but I wasn’t alone. There were a number of people – and the most important people were the people of Ireland, North and South – who wanted more than anything else to an end to violence.