Nana Gildernew
The sudden death on 3 November of Annie Mary Gildernew in Eglish, Co
Tyrone has removed a colourful and well loved personality from the
local area.
Nana, as she was popularly known, was 80 years old. Her momentous
life took her from her birthplace at Carrycastle, Brantry to France
and America and a place in the history books as the first
non-resident to be honoured by both Clan na Gael and Irish Noraid for
her life long contibution to Irish Republicanism.
Nana was a committed Republican who very much favoured the Good
Friday Agreement. She and her family made history when they
instigated the famous squatting incident in Caledon in 1967, which
highlighted housing discrimination and sparked off the Civil Rights
Movement.
When asked why she was not in the fields making hay on the day after
the eviction of members of her family from the house in Caledon which
they had been occupying, she replied: ``We are making history''. Her
words were certainly prophetic.
Prior to her marriage to James Gildernew in 1942, the then Miss Burke
worked in France. On her return home at the outbreak of World War II
she was asked her nationality at the docks in England and replied
``Irish and proud of it''. She was arrested as a result, and it was not
to be the only time. In 1956, as a young mother, she was lifted once
again as part of the British Government's ongoing harassment of the
Nationalist people.
Nana ran a grocery shop in Brantry for many years at a time when the
business was the mainstay of the local community. Generous and kind
hearted she will be remembered for her many favours to those less
well off in those times.
Prior to moving to Eglish in 1970 the Gildernews were tragically
bereaved by the death of a son, Colm at the age of 18. James
Gildernew died in 1974.
The Gildernew family home has always had a reputation as a great
ceili-ing house and Nana was renowned for her hospitality. She loved
having people around as was in her element when the house was full.
One of her interests was card playing and she enjoyed nothing more
than a game with family members and friends.
People also came to her for advice and help with filling in forms,
her door was open to everyone and people from all sections of the
local community came to her for help. Her strong political beliefs
did not make her sectarian nor did they isolate her from people with
opposing views.
Irish speaker, she started an Irish language school in the village
some years ago. She also helped establish the Open Door Club in
Eglish and was chairperson in its formative years.
This remarkable lady is survived by her daughter, Mary Theresa
Goodfellow and six sons, Phelim, Seamus, Patsy, Tony, Dominic and
Francis.
She had 35 grandchildren, all of whom gathered to celebrate her 80th
birthday on 23 September. Two brothers, John and Edmund Burke, and a
sister, Josephine Mason, also survive her.
Her funeral at St. Patrick's Church, Eglish was one of the largest to
be seen in the area for some time. Interment followed in the
adjoining cemetary where Mitchel McLaughlin paid her a tribute on
behalf of the Republican Movement
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