Nell McCafferty, one of Ireland’s most outspoken female voices has passed away.
Born in Derry, the 80-year-old passed away at Beach Hill Nursing Home in Fahan this morning.
Her family has just announced the passing of the author, journalist and feminist campaigner.
She was born in 1944 in Derry’s Bogside and graduated from Queen’s University in Belfast and then studied in France.
She became a journalist in her 20s and authored many books, including ‘Nell’, ‘In the Eyes of the Law’ and ‘The best of Nell’.
She worked for numerous publications down through the years including Irish Times, the Sunday Tribune and Hot Press and was a regular panellist on radio and television programmes.
Ms McCafferty was a founding member of the Irish Women’s Liberation Movement.
She became an outspoken advocate for women’s rights, the poor and for people who suffered injustice.
She was prominent in campaigns and issues that received national and international attention including Bloody Sunday, the Kerry Babies cases and sex abuse scandals in the Catholic Church.
She received many awards, including an honorary doctorate of literature from University College Cork, in 2016.
McCafferty also spoke out against homophobia in the Catholic Church and Irish society and told RTÉ’s The Late Late Show in 2004 that being gay was the last great taboo in Ireland.
President Michael D Higgins described her as a “friend and ally” who had “enduring courage that was delivered with a curiosity that was ethical and fearless on the side of those without power”.
Nell was the beloved daughter of the late Lily & Hugh McCafferty and a sister of Carmel and the late Muireanna, Nuala, Hugh and Paddy.
Nell’s remains will be reposing at her sister Carmel’s residence, 43 Belmont Crescent from 3:30pm this afternoon, Wednesday 21st August.
Funeral leaving from there on Friday 23rd August at 11:45am for 12:30pm Requiem Mass in St. Columba’s Church, Longtower.
A private cremation will take place afterwards in Lakelands Crematorium, Co. Cavan.
The wake house will be private from 10pm in the evenings.
Nell’s Requiem Mass can be streamed live via the link below;
