Republican News · Thursday 31 January 2002

Former women POWs to tell their stories

In a unique and historic event, former women prisoners will tell their story of life and struggle in Armagh Womens' Prison from the early days of the conflict in the North in the 1970s up until the prison was closed down in the 1980s and the women were moved to Maghaberry Prison in County Antrim.

The event, to take place on Friday 1 August in Gort na Móna GAC in Turf Lodge, West Belfast, will for the first time hear women who spent time in Armagh prison talk of prison life and how they carried on the struggle through organising education and other republican activities.

Rose McAdorey, who spent several years in Armagh, will tell the story of the hurley stick incident when republican women, including Sinn Féin vice-President Maire Drumm, protested outside a Belfast court over attempts by the Stormont government to outlaw hurleys.

The first woman internee, Liz Maskey will speak, as will former hunger striker Mary Doyle, Chris Clarke and Jennifer McCann.

A question and answer session chaired by Sinn Féin councillor and former POW Chrissie McAuley will follow the talk, while McAuley's colleague on Belfast Council, Marie Moore, will give a political summing up to conclude the serious business of the night.

Speaking to An Phoblacht Marie Moore explained: "This is a very special event as it means that former women political prisoners are telling of the hardships they endured in Armagh Womens' Prison and of the fortitude and defiance they showed down through the years in face of British government attempts to break their spirits.

"While in prison women republican activists carried on the struggle, whether it was in their attempts to escape or by their involvement in the No Wash protests and hunger strike.

"This is a very worthwhile event which as many people as possible should attend."

See Imeachtaí for further information.