Write a commentA packed Sean Hollywood Arts Centre heard the story of political prisoners in Armagh Women’s Gaol as part of Casca, Newry’s 1916 centenary committee's events.
The powerful award winning film, A Kind of Sisterhood, which charts the experiences of the Republican political prisoners in the jail was shown followed by a question and answers session with producer and director Michelle Devlin and Claire Hackett as well as former prisoner Eileen Morgan Hillen.
In an emotionally charged evening the audience was taken through the removal of political status, the dirty protest, hunger strikes, escape attempts, mass assaults, strip searches and the state’s efforts to break the women by taking their children away.
What emerges is a raw, honest, sometimes harrowing but always compelling story about hope, humanity, sisterhood and the quiet strength of women,.
South Armagh MLA Megan Fearon summed the evening up with her closing words “This is the second time I’ve seen this film and its impact isn’t lessened one bit. It never fails to move; it’s always an emotional, humbling and inspiring experience,” she said.
“For me, one of the main themes that always comes through is the continuity of the struggle for freedom in its many forms.
“These women gave so much to get us where we are today; to a position where all we have to give to carry on the struggle is our time.
“The best way to honour them is to do just that. Play your part, big or small, and help bring about the fair, equal and free Ireland that they suffered so much to bring us one step closer to.”
