The Women of Antrim.

Congratulations to Antrim Ladies All Ireland Football Champions 2022 and Antrim’s All Ireland Camogie Champions. Na mná abú. 

The Women of Armagh. 

Last Friday, there was standing room only in The Felons as Richard McAuley and I were joined by former Armagh POWs Síle Darragh, Máire Cush and Martina Anderson for the launch of a new book, The Armagh Women during Prisoners’ Day. 

The Armagh Women – The Story of Protests in Armagh Women’s prison -is a tribute as well as a history of republican women resisting oppression. The book begins with the construction of the prison in the 18th century. It outlines the imprisonment of republican women there in the 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s. Regrettably there is not a huge amount of information covering that period.

Now for Féile 35! 

Féile an Phobail was a triumph. I want to thank and congratulate the organising committee and the hundreds of activists who made it all possible by their hard work. Féile just doesn’t happen. It takes a huge amount of planning throughout the year. The result was 10 days during which a hundred thousand people attended scores of debates, discussions, 28 art exhibitions, music and sporting events, book launches and much more. Over 350 events with 90 percent free. 

Noah Donohoe’s family deserve answers

On Saturday several thousand people turned out at Belfast City Hall in a demonstration of solidarity and support for the family of Noah Donohoe. The 14 year old was found in a storm drain in North Belfast in June 2020 after being missing for six days.