Irish History Corner

One Tough Irish Woman

In 2024, the world of Stormont changed. (Stormont is the common name for the Northern Ireland Assembly, as well as its estate in Belfast where it is located). Although Northern Ireland is still ultimately under the British King’s control, Stormont uses a power-sharing system.  This system allows Nationalists (people who want to unite with the Republic of Ireland) and Unionists (people who want to remain in union with the United Kingdom) to share power. Stormont exercises powers over things such as the economy, education, health, and police.  So, what happened in 2024? A nationalist Catholic with IRA roots, Michelle O’Neill, was appointed First Minister of Northern Ireland. Her power-sharing deputy first minister would be Emma Little-Pengelly.  Michelle said, “This is a historic day. It is about the future. It is about working together to deliver for workers and families, and creating new and exciting opportunities that ensure our children and grandchildren can achieve their dreams and ambitions in life.”

So, what makes her so tough?  Well, you can hear it in her words and see it in her history. Her maiden name was Doris, and she was born into a well-known republican (nationalist) family. Her father, Brendan Doris, was an Irish Republican Army prisoner, and her uncle headed a committee that raised funds for the IRA. One of her cousins was killed in an ambush by a unit of the British Army. She had her first baby at 16. She said the nuns prayed over her, and some people treated her badly, but luckily, she had people who gave her support. With that support, she moved on. She became involved in politics as a teenager, and at 21 she joined the political party Sinn Féin (Irish for We Ourselves). In 2010 she became Mayor of Dungannon; Michelle was the first woman to hold that position. She was also one of the youngest people to lead Sinn Féin through two election campaigns. 

In her first address to the Northern Ireland Assembly, she said: “The days of second-class citizenship are long gone”. She called for all to see her appointment “as a moment of equality and progress”.  She made international news recently when a parade commission approved an Orange Order (a group of pro-British unionists) request to parade through the Garvaghy Road area of NI. This particular parade had not been allowed for almost 3 decades due to it previously sparking serious violence, including several murders. As the parade began to form, First Minister O’Neill stood with others to block its movement. She said, “No right-minded person would allow an Orange Order march through the Garvaghy Road community!”  She expressed her support for the Garvaghy Rd. residents by saying, “These people have suffered generations of sectarian domination, intimidation, and violence. I will stand with the people of Garvaghy Road today and every day!”  Michelle O’Neill, one tough Irish woman, whose story is still being written.

And by the way, the parade did not go through. 

 – by Bill Burke. 

Sources: Business Post 2/3/24,  NI’s Government has Returned to Stormont-what you need to know-J. McCormack BBC, WSKG PBS News2/3/24,  The Journal & Belfast Telegraph, BBC.com.