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No More Mother Machrees Maureen Connelly Bridgewater Review Volume 4 | Issue 2 Article 6 Sep-1986 No More Mother Machrees Maureen Connelly Recommended Citation Connelly, Maureen (1986). No More Mother Machrees. Bridgewater Review, 4(2), 4-7. Available at: http://vc.bridgew.edu/br_rev/vol4/iss2/6 This item is available as part of Virtual Commons, the open-access institutional repository of Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. No More Mother chased by British Army soldiers. Mrs. Maguire was severely injured and three of her children were killed. The day after, Mairead Corrigan heard that Bet­ ty Williams was going to have a rally Maureen Connelly against violence. "I didn't know who she was, but I got in touch because I too wanted to speak out against violence. It has to stop; it can't go on. There must be another way," is how she explained reland's Mother Machree of sen­ the fact that on the day ofthe children's timental song no longer sits, as did funeral, she and Betty Williams foun­ I American counterpart Mrs. Whist­ ded the Peace Movement. ler, knitting sweateF-S for her grand­ After weeks on a life-support ma­ children. Though silver still may shine chine and several months learning how in her hair, it may be camouflaged by to walk again, Anne Maguire resumed Clairo!. And the sweaters she no longer her life as mother and housewife. She knits may be purchased at Shannon's had another baby, worked for the Duty Free shop by daughter Deirdre movement and spoke at demonstra­ and son Seamus when they make their tions. But she never could accept the annual visit home. Yes, I might as well fact that three of her children were say it -- Mother Machree is finally off dead and was convinced that they had her rocker. been shot by the army (a dismantled For centuries, Ireland has been gun was found in the backseat) not called Mother. As Edna O'Brien in Mairead Corrigan Maguire killed by the car. OnJanuary 21, 1977, "Mother Ireland" (1976) explains, the day before the inquest was to begin, "Ireland has always been a woman, a BorninBelfastonJanuary27,1944, after typing letters in the movement's womb, a cave, a cow, a Rosaleen, a sow, Mairead Corrigan was educated at St. office, she went home and slashed her a bride, a harlot, and, of course, the Vincent's Primary School on Falls wrists and throat with an electic gaunt Hag of Beare." The latter refers Road and Miss Gordon's Commercial carving knife. The next month, the to the subject of a 9th century poem College. At 14, she joined the Legion movement's founders went their sepa­ who has become an Irish Mary Mag­ of Mary, a volunteer organization, and rate ways. And in 1981, Mairead Corri­ delene, a prototype for the virgin­ opened a club for handicapped chil­ gan married her sister's widowerJackie mother figure and conflict that has dren. Before founding the Northern Maguire. Together they have five chil­ dominated Irish literature. Ireland Peace Movement with Betty dren; the eldest three are from his Last fall in Boston, in person not in Williams in 1976, she was the confi­ marriage to Anne Corrigan. Maguire, print, I was introduced to three remark­ dential secretary to the managing direc­ her husband Jackie and their children, able Irish women who have made me tor of the Guinness Brewery. In 1980, now live in Strangford, County Down. reevaluate the following statement she was elected Chairman of the Peace In her speaking appearance in Bos­ made by Iris Murdoch in her novel, People organization. Aside from the ton and in conversations before and The Red and the Green n "I think being a Nobel Prize for Peace which she re­ after with this writer, Maguire repeated woman is like being Irish. Everybody ceived with Betty Williams in 1977, that she was here "as an Irish woman to says you're important and nice, but she is the recipient of an Honorary talk about Ireland where there are you take second place all the time." In Doctor of Letters from Yale. more problems than answers." In Au­ the following essay on Nobel Prize On August 10, 1976, Mairead Cor­ gust of 1976, she explained n but winner Mairead Corrigan Maguire, rigan's sister (Mrs. Jackie) Maguire was without referring specifically to the Irish parliament member, the Hon. walking along Finaghy Road north in tragedy that struck her sister's family Mary Harney, and writer Julia O'Fao­ Belfast with four of her children, ages --"I reacted emotionally to all the kil­ lain, I hope to show just why Mother six weeks to eight years. They were lings and to those who marched for Machree (as well as the Hag of Beare) struck down by a car driven by two peace. Some joined it (the Peace Move­ are no more. IRA volunteers, who were being ment) because they thought the IRA 4 Machrees and UDA were both the causes and the "We are a deeply spiritual people problems. Within our minds we had to who never encouraged the gun, the face this conflict... Some said the an­ bomb, the bullet. But armies couldn't swer was in reconciliation but there is control the situation. The whole injus­ no use reconciling people and building tice of it was a crucifying experience. bridges if you can't walk over those That is why I had to do something. I bridges. We must look at those thought of taking the gun, of joining causes." the IRA. But not for Nationalism. I do Issues involving justice, Maguire not believe in Nationalism. National­ stressed, "are the key to opening an ism is the destroyer of human families. understanding of Northern Ireland. I do not belong to any nation. I belong This is far more important than send­ to the world. I wouldn't give one hair ing money." Admitting that there are for a nation. It's people who are impor­ economic divisions across the board, tant, not a dying and a diseased she said, "we reject the use ofviolence; ideology." we seek nonviolent political and social Maguire, as mother and peace-prize change. We want our American cous­ recipient, chastized America, "for ins and friends to try and understand twice using nuclear weapons. No other this, put away the myth that we are a country'has."She then mentioned Pres­ '\ ' violent fighting race. We have a pre­ ident Kennedy's visit to Ireland and his "'. V dominant culture of nonviolence." pledge "to begin again the quest for Maguire is convinced that "non­ peace. We regret that day he died. violence is the only way for human Because we now look to America and families to survive." The fact that see Star Wars not the New Frontier." alleged terrorists have come from "a Admitting that ten years ago she Mary Harney culture that is non-violent," is ex­ carefully studied the IRA war theory, plained by Maguire to be the result of Maguire confessed that, "as a Christian At 22, Mary Harney was chosen "50 years of dominance by the Union­ to Christ," she asked God, "Would Auditor (president) of the College's ists," and the fact that we were "ig- you kil1?" And his answer to her was, Historical Society, the first woman to head that most prestigious debating circle. At 24, Irish Prime Minister Jack ttyou do not kill; you love your enemies." Lynch, impressed by her leadership ttIt's as simple as that; we can't kill people. and performance as Auditor, ap­ pointed her to the Senate. She was the Too many people in my country are willing to youngest member ever appointed. Two die and too few are prepared to live." years later she was elected to the Dublin City Council and, in June of 1981, she was elected to the Irish nored. Thank God for the Civil Rights "You do not kill; you love your ene­ Parliament, and subsequently re­ Movement that asked for human as mies." "It's as simple as that; we can't elected. Shortly after the signing ofthe well as civil rights." kill people. Too many people in my Anglo-Irish Accord by Fitzgerald and What happened, said Maguire, "was country are willing to die and too few British Prime Minister Thatcher, Har­ that two communities too long sepa­ are prepared to live." ney left her party (Fianna Fail headed rated by government and church Maguire compared the situation in by Charles Haughey) and joined the started to fight because they didn't her country to that of a husband and Progressive Democrats headed by Des know each other. It was Bernadette wife who have been separated for a O'Malley. She still is a Member of Devlin who asked the British Army to long time. "Let them begin to sort out, parliament (representing a working come into Northern Ireland. As a paci­ to solve their own problems. And you, class constituency in Dublin) as well as fist I want to see peace, not armies. But our cousins, must play your role. member of the Dublin City Council with the arrival of the British Army, Which is to get to know us and to (seeking better housing and increased the IRA surfaced." acknowledge our common humanity." job opportunities). 5 No More Mother Machrees continued Mary Harney's resume reads like a country to live in if you are young and recent visit to this country (she spent a "Who's Who in Irish Government." healthy. But I wouldn't want to grow summer here as a college student) was And her presence in this country under old here.
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