Tribute to the late Paddy O’Hanlon

PADDY O’HANLON , who has died aged 64, was a civil rights activist, a founder member of Northern Ireland’s Social Democratic and Labour Party, and the party’s chief whip during the ill-fated powersharing administration at Stormont in the 1970s.

Civil Rights Then and Now, 1968-2008 QUB Seminar Michael Farrell

This seminar has been organised to mark the 40th anniversary of the Civil Rights movement in Northern Ireland but this year also marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and I would like to begin with a quote from the Preamble to that Declaration:

“Whereas it is essential if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law”

And here’s to you Mrs Mary Robinson

By Susan McKay Irish News Columnist 26/08/08 There’s something about Mary Robinson. As one of the world’s leading human rights activists, she is a formidable woman and an outstandingly brave one. She moves among world leaders and is a personal friend of Nelson Mandela’s. But she has not lost her belief in the importance of … Read more

Robinson criticises plan to merge human rights bodies

Robinson criticises plan to merge human rights bodies Mary Robinson: human rights bodies “need to be invigorated” SUSAN McKAY IRISH TIMES 25 AUGUST 2008 CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT COMMEMORATION: FORMER PRESIDENT Mary Robinson has sharply criticised a Government proposal to merge a number of human rights agencies. Speaking yesterday, she said bodies like the Equality Authority … Read more

Derry Housing Action Committee [D.H.A.C]

Click on an image to view the large version Originally published: Reality, No. 7, Centre Pages ’68      D.H.A.C.      ’69   On a cold February day last year four women and two young men sat in the Corporation Housing Dept. discussing the housing position in the city, and in particular the case of the four women … Read more

Springtown Camp and Civil Rights’ women

Originally Published Derry Journal, Friday, 6th June 2008.   Local author and historian Fionnbarra Ó’Dochartaigh, a co-founder of NICRA in 1967, in this third exclusive article for the “Journal” traces the roots of early public agitations which led to the dramatic events on Derry’s Duke Street on October 5th 1968.  Almost overnight the civil rights … Read more

WOMEN IN CIVIL RIGHTS

When the civil rights struggle came, a meeting was called for people interested in social justice, were against repression and for the good of the community and my husband Frank and I were invited along. I was proposed and seconded for the Executive Committee of the Civil Rights Association and willingly joined it. I was … Read more