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Journalist and Feminist Activist Nell McCafferty Passes Away at 80
McCafferty, originally from Londonderry, was a prominent journalist for the Irish Times and a key figure in women’s rights in Ireland. In 1970, she co-founded the Irish Women’s Liberation Movement (IWLM).
Known for her fearless writing and social commentary, McCafferty penned several books and contributed to major publications like the Sunday Tribune and Hot Press.
Irish President Michael D. Higgins praised McCafferty’s ability to “stir people’s consciousness” and her intense dedication to fighting repression, poverty, and authoritarianism. He mentioned that he and his wife were privileged to be her friends and that she would be deeply missed.
“Nell McCafferty was a pioneer in raising those searching questions which could be asked, but which had been buried, hidden or neglected,” Higgins said. He added that she had a remarkable ability to empathize, particularly evident in her column “In the Eyes of the Law,” which shed light on the complexities behind court rituals and defendants.
Simon Harris, the Irish premier, described McCafferty as a “fierce, fearless and fiery” campaigner. “If she was in the room or in the debate, you knew about it,” he remarked, adding that her passion had a laser-like focus on inequality and injustice.
“She left Ireland a much better place than she found it. May she rest in peace,” Harris concluded, emphasizing her significant role in advocating for equality and change.
Stormont First Minister and Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle O’Neill called McCafferty a “trailblazer in every sense of the word.” According to O’Neill, McCafferty’s voice promoted equality and fought injustices, particularly for disadvantaged women.
“A proud daughter of Derry, Nell’s wisdom, humor, and humility will be sorely missed,” O’Neill said, offering her condolences to McCafferty’s family and friends.
Deputy Premier Micheal Martin expressed his sadness at McCafferty’s passing, hailing her as an exceptional journalist and campaigner who significantly advanced civil and women’s rights. “She made an enormous contribution to public debate in Ireland,” he noted.
Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Fein leader, also praised McCafferty’s contributions, stating, “Nell McCafferty lived and worked every day to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” McDonald added that McCafferty’s campaigning helped change Ireland for the better.
Ireland’s Press Ombudsman, Susan McKay, lauded McCafferty as a groundbreaking journalist who gave a voice to the marginalized. “She changed the way that all of us who came after her wrote journalism and did journalism,” McKay said, emphasizing McCafferty’s focus on the experiences of ordinary people.
SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood described McCafferty as a “mould-breaker and establishment shaker,” and Irish Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik called her a “wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon.”
Seamus Dooley, the Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), stated that McCafferty was a bright light in Irish journalism, renowned for her commitment to social justice. “Throughout her career, Nell blazed a trail for feminists and played a significant role in the development of the feminist movement in Ireland,” Dooley said.
In a piece marking her 80th birthday, President Michael D. Higgins celebrated McCafferty’s “enduring courage” as a writer and remarked on the sense of humor she brought to her work and friendships.
McCafferty will be remembered for her significant contributions to journalism and feminist activism, leaving a lasting legacy on Ireland and beyond.
Source: PA News
