Mairead Corrigan

Mairead Maguire, also known as Mairead Corrigan, was born on January 27, 1944, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She grew up in a Catholic family and later on became a prominent peace activist. She is best known for her efforts in promoting peace and reconciliation during the Northern Ireland conflict, particularly through co-founding the Community of Peace People with Betty Williams in 1976, which worked towards ending the sectarian violence in the region.

On August 10, 1976, a tragic incident occurred when Anne Maguire’s three children were killed in a car crash on a Belfast street. The incident was caused by an Irish Republican Army (IRA) fugitive who was shot by British soldiers while trying to escape in a car, leading the vehicle to go out of control. Mairead Corrigan, Anne's sister, was deeply affected by the tragedy and, together with Betty Williams, organized a peace march to protest the ongoing violence in Northern Ireland.

On August 14, 1976, Mairead Corrigan and Betty Williams founded the Peace People, initially named Women for Peace, in response to the violence in Northern Ireland. Their main goal was to promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict and encourage dialogue between the divided communities. The organization led marches and rallies that drew thousands of participants advocating for nonviolence and reconciliation, receiving international attention for their efforts.

On December 10, 1976, Mairead Corrigan, along with Betty Williams, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their courageous leadership in organizing the Northern Ireland peace movement. The Nobel Committee recognized their efforts to bring together people from both sides of the conflict and for their commitment to peaceful means of conflict resolution. Their work was seen as an inspirational example of grassroots activism promoting reconciliation.

In February 1977, Mairead Corrigan co-authored the book 'A Time to Speak' with Betty Williams, which detailed their experiences in the peace movement and their vision for a peaceful future for Northern Ireland. The book provided personal insights into the challenges they faced and the events that motivated their activism. It also discussed the broader implications of their work for peace and conflict resolution worldwide, gaining attention as an important document of that era.

On December 10, 1996, the 20th anniversary of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, Mairead Corrigan delivered a lecture titled 'Nobel Lecture 1996' in Oslo, Norway. In her speech, she reflected on the past decades and addressed the ongoing need for peace and reconciliation in the world. Her lecture offered praise for nonviolent strategies in peacebuilding and the continued relevance of dialogue and understanding across global conflicts.

On March 20, 2003, Mairead Corrigan publicly voiced her opposition to the Iraq War, aligning herself with other international peace organizations. As a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, her statement argued against military intervention in Iraq, advocating instead for peaceful resolutions through diplomatic means. Her position resonated with international anti-war movements, emphasizing the importance of nonviolence as a principle in international conflicts.

On May 31, 2010, Mairead Corrigan was aboard the MV Rachel Corrie, a part of the flotilla attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade. The Israeli Defense Forces intercepted the vessel, and Corrigan was among the activists arrested. The incident drew international attention to the blockade and sparked a debate on international aid efforts and the political situation in Gaza.

On October 13, 2010, Mairead Corrigan was deported from Israel after being detained upon her arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. She had traveled to Israel to attend a conference on interfaith dialogue. However, due to her previous participation in attempted blockades of Gaza, she was denied entry. The deportation was part of a broader policy stance by Israel on activists associated with Gaza aid efforts.

On October 9, 2012, Mairead Corrigan was nominated as a finalist for the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Her nomination was in recognition of her decades-long commitment to peace, nonviolence, and human rights advocacy. The Sakharov Prize honors individuals and groups who have dedicated their lives to the defense of human rights, and Corrigan's life's work in Northern Ireland and beyond epitomized these qualities.