Today we received the sad news that our friend and comrade Margaretta D'Arcy has died. We will miss her unwavering and uncompromising commitment to peace and justice, and her determination to hold the authorities and politicians to account for their complicity in war.

Margaretta was 91 years of age and has been campaigning for peace and justice for most of her very long and productive life. In addition to her passion and dedication to peace and justice, she was a member of Aosdána: Here's what it says about her on their website: 

"Born in London in 1934 to Irish parents, Margaretta D’Arcy was raised and educated in Ireland. Her novels include Tell Them Everything (1962) and Awkward Corners. Her plays, most of which have been broadcast by RTÉ and the BBC, include The Pinprick of History, Vandaleur’s Folly, Women’s Voices from West of Ireland, Prison-voice of Countess Markievicz, A Suburban Suicide, and many more that were devised as group productions. In 1996, she complied Galway’s Pirate Women: A Global Trawl for Women’s Pirate Press. She has collaborated at length with John Arden, jointly producing more than 10 plays and a series of political and cultural essays." 

Margaretta had a very keen sense of the importance of words, actions and theatre, and she put these into effect on numerous occasions at Shannon. In July 2013 she was before Ennis District Court to face the charge that she “did interfere with the proper use of that airport by going on the runway without permission". This was as a result of a peace action she and Niall Farrell had taken at Shannon. Her statement at the time went to the heart of the matter:

"It is the improper use of Shannon Airport; a civilian airport that makes me want to have this conversation with the State. Why is Shannon Airport improper? - It is endangering civilian lives and making us complicit in war crimes. It has turned a civilian airport into a military airport.

As a whistleblower I reject absolutely this absurd charge that I "did interfere with the proper use of that airport by going on the runway without permission." - I have information and evidence available as part of an open and frank conversation to be heard by the State. I was on the runway and indeed the authorities had to be notified.  I was voluntarily arrested; and have the opportunity of having my active citizenship conversation in a public place in court. 

She went on to say that the Gárdaí had been muzzled by the Minister of Justice and had therefore never examined the US military planes that landed. As she put it, "no one has been able to have a frank and open conversation about this matter with the Gárdaí", and the Dáil have never fully debated the improper use of Shannon and its implications for the safety of all civilians.

Margaretta sought repeatedly to have those conversations. As recently as our peace vigil in Shannon on Oct 12th she did just that; once again stopping the traffic and making the road hers to do so. 

Margaretta was an inspiration to all peace, equality and justice activists. She had a long life of very active non-violent peace protests, going as far back as her participation in the Greenham Common anti-nuclear weapons protests in the 1970s. Just last month, her consistent solidarity with the Palestinian people prompted her to return the honorary doctorate the University of Galway gave her, demanding that they break their ties with the Israeli Institute of Technology, Technion, which has links to the Israeli Defence Forces.

She will be very much missed by all her friends and fellow activists, especially on the roundabout at Shannon Airport at our monthly vigils.

But she should rest now because she has done more than most. Ní bheidh a leithéad ann arís.