Peace People founded as result of tragedy
Irish News
03/07/09
MAIREAD Corrigan Maguire first came to prominence when she co-founded the Peace People with Betty Williams in 1976.
The group was founded after the deaths of three of the children of Ms Corrigan Maguire’s sister Anne Maguire.
Joanne, Andrew and John Corrigan were knocked down and killed by a car after its driver, IRA man Danny Lennon, was shot dead by the British army during a getaway in August 1976.
Appalled by the tragedy, Betty Williams contacted The Irish News and asked anyone who opposed violence to telephone her.
Ms Corrigan Maguire later phoned Ms Williams to thank her for her support and a few days later the Peace People group was born.
Around 35,000 people went out on the streets of Belfast a few weeks after the group had been founded to campaign for peace in the north.
Ms Corrigan Maguire and Ms Williams were awarded the Nobel peace prize in 1977 in recognition of their work.
Anne Maguire took her own life in 1980.
Her sister Mairead married Anne’s widower, Jackie Maguire, the following year.
Ms Corrigan Maguire continues to play a key role in the Peace People.
She opposed the 1991 Gulf War and has campaigned against the current Iraq war that started in 2003.
Ms Williams left the group in 1980 and emigrated to the US three years later.
She returned to Ireland in 2004 and now lives in Co Galway.
'So venceremos, beidh bua againn eigin lá eigin. Sealadaigh abú.'
--Bobby Sands