Nell McCafferty feminist campaigner

[Dulra]

The death has been announced of Nell McCaffrey journalist, playwright, novelist, feminist campaigner, founding member of Irish women's liberation movement and proud Derry woman. If you haven't heard of her look her up she was instrumental in improving women's rights and freedom in Ireland and helping to bring an end to the control of the Catholic Church on women. May she rest in peace (Ar dheis de go raibh a anam)

Nell McCafferty: journalist and feminist campaigner dies aged 80

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2024/08/21/nell-mccafferty-journalist-and-feminist-campaigner-dies-aged-80/

I heard on WH this morning.

Rest in peace, Nell, a mighty woman.

I was wondering if anyone had started a thread yet. I'm very sad to hear this news. She (and the other feminist activists of that era) gave Irish women a voice at a time when they were largely voiceless. A lot of younger Irish women have probably never heard of her, but they owe so much to her. She was also a very good humoured and entertaining guest on many radio programmes over the years.

Incidentally, I was shocked to read that she was 80. In my head, she is perennially 50.

Amazing woman. Rip

I loved Nell. I remember my father could not even look at her on a screen due to his deep commitment to misogyny, which told me from a young age that she was doing something very right. She was so funny, entertaining and had great insight into the world around her. Ironically she had so many battles going on around her with the start of the troubles in NI but she focused on women’s issues and LGB issues and definitely left the world a much, much better place than she found it.

I really admired Nell!! I grew up in the '80's in Ireland and remember watching a current affairs programme on RTE? Was it Today Tonight!?? But used to wait until the end when she would present and always end with Good Night Sisters!! She was ground breaking and changed our lives for the better.

I remember my father could not even look at her on a screen due to his deep commitment to misogyny
Sorry to hear that, it was through my dad that I got to know about her when I was a young teen in the early 90s, she was very much admired in my childhood home

That's so sad. I loved Nell. She was one of my heros growing up in the 80's. If any of her books are still available, I would definitely recommend to anyone who hasn't read them. Some are short pieces (e.g. The Best of Nell, Goodnight Sisters) but she also wrote one about the life of Peggy Deery who was maimed at Bloody Sunday. She also wrote an autobiography which I haven't read but must try to source it.

And a woman to blame: the Kerry babies case. Powerful shocking read

Yes. She was very supportive of Joanne Hayes.

These are the women we have to thank and cherish the memory of.
RIP

Her funeral will take place today at 12.30 in St. Columba's Church in Derry. You can listen in on the webcam. Unfortunately, I won't be home so I'll miss it. I might record the news - I'm sure they'll show some clips. There will probably be some tributes to her on TV and radio over the next few days.

Also, I love that detail about the famous contraception train (when a group of women took the train to Belfast to buy contraceptives). They hadn't realized that you needed a prescription to buy the pill, so they bought some other tablets instead (vitamins maybe?) and pretended it was the pill. Mad to think that there were protestors waiting for them at Connolly! It was a very different Ireland back then.

There’s also a thread on Craicnet. RIP, Nell. You were an inspiration my whole life.