Ógra Tour Armagh Gaol

Armagh jail is a building steeped in republican history. It is the place where republican, female prisoners engaged in the dirty protest demanding their rightful status as ‘political prisoners’ and also where the 1980 hunger strike took place. Currently, it sits in quite a derelict state; many ceilings have collapsed, interior walls crumbled, and only remain standing thanks to various well positioned scaffolding. However, upon entry to the gaol, the eerie chill can still be felt creeping down the narrow, dark, damp and dank corridor. Controversially, this building, which many republican female P.O.W’s called home, will soon be transformed into a five star hotel and restaurant.

On Saturday the 18th of June, the Coney Kilpatrick OSF Cumann organised a tour of the infamous jail as part of a series of planned political tours and trips.

Activists present were lucky enough to have not one, but two guides for the event, a local council representative with extensive knowledge of the early history surrounding the jail and an ex-P.O.W who was incarcerated during the late seventies early eighties, Ann Marie Quinn.

Speaking following the tour, Ógra activist, Álanna Campbell said;

Overall the tour was a very successful event. I feel that the personal insight and memories given by Ann Marie Quinn on her time spent as a political prisoner in Armagh Jail added a special element to the day, and was greatly valued by myself, and the Ógra activists in attendance.

Knowing that many ex-P.O.Ws entered jail at such young ages and spent their youth behind bars, puts things in perspective for young activists like myself. While we lend whatever time and effort we can to the struggle, we do so in a completely different environment; incarceration is merely a concept which due to both male and female P.O.W’s and their fellow volunteers will never become a reality to us.

Over the next few months the east Tyrone cumann will be organising various political tours of significant republican places and everyone is welcome to participate.