by Louise Doyle
THE North’s first minister shared her personal and political journey with Martin McGuinness at a special event on the eve of the eighth anniversary of his death.
The emotive conversation between Michelle O’Neill and human rights activist Andrée Murphy was held in the Ebrington Hotel in the Bogside man’s beloved home city of Derry.
But while his roots were always in Derry, the packed to capacity room told of the former deputy first minister’s love for Donegal too.
Portrait photographs of Mr McGuinness dotted around the Ballroom illuminated time fondly spent in Donegal with family and his cherished dog, Buttons.
Grianan of Aileach was a special place for the then deputy first minister, perhaps because it reminded him of Ireland’s ancient history, but also because it afforded panoramic views across the counties of Donegal, Derry and Tyrone.
Illies in Inishowen also held a special place in his heart, as it was where his mother Peggy was born and where he and his wife Bernadette wed in 1974.
Ms O’Neill spoke warmly of always having a memory of Martin McGuinness in her life. His presence, she said, was a constant which continued until the day he died.
“Martin was always in my life. I can’t recall the specific moment that we met, he was always just there,” Ms O’Neill told Ms Murphy when asked about when they first met.
The Clonoe woman began her career as a local councillor on Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council before becoming an assembly member, a role in which would see Mr McGuinness encourage her to take on the agriculture minister portfolio.
“That was Martin, he was always challenging me and pushing me on because he believed in me. When he said about the agriculture post, I laughed and said: ‘I know I’m from the country but I’m not a farmer’.”
Minister Michelle O’Neill in conversation with Andrée Murphy.
Ms O’Neill revealed that despite being a prominent figure who would speak with world leaders, Martin McGuinness would make time for so many others, quietly and privately away from the spotlight.
She gave an example of him going to the home of a young boy who had written to him about dumping on his family’s country lane, and of going to meet the daughter of an RUC officer who was killed.
The fallout from the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal led to Mr McGuinness’ quitting after the then DUP leader Arlene Foster refused to stand aside as first minister while an investigation was carried out.
Mr McGuinness was also ill with amyloidosis.
In January 2017, Sinn Féin announced that she was to replace Martin McGuinness as the party’s leader north of the border.
“I’ll never forget that night when Martin went out and told everyone in the Bogside, the world’s media that he was resigning and he told everyone why he was resigning. He told the people about who he was; that his heart belonged to the Bogside; that he believed in the people of Derry; in the people of Ireland; that he believed in Irish unity, and that he believed in equality and justice.”
The first minister’s voice faltered when she spoke of the devastation of his untimely passing, and, of how, despite being gravely ill, Mr McGuinness was by her side at a homecoming event in Clonoe.
“I think all of us will always remember that evening so acutely because hearts were broke, there is no doubt about that.
“When it was announced that I was going to be taking over from Martin I had imposter syndrome. I couldn’t believe that I was going out there to tell everyone I was taking over from Martin McGuinness.
“Two days after that, we had a big homecoming in Clonoe. Martin insisted on coming to the event. I thought he shouldn’t travel, he wasn’t well. But he said to me, ‘no, this is your night. You are being welcomed home’. He spoke in Clonoe that night, and that was his last public appearance.
‘SO PRIVILEGED’
Minister O’Neill said her life with Mr McGuinness has gone “full circle”.
“It actually has gone full circle, as the support that was there from day one was there until the end.
“I am so privileged I have been on this journey of great stories, great memories, and I am so privileged to carry on this journey. But for me,
Martin’s legacy lives on. If you want a united Ireland, you have to go out and work for it, and be comfortable in who you are and in your own shoes.
“I think the best tribute to Martin is for us in this decade to finish this job and unite the people of this island.”
Speaking to this newspaper at the time in 2017 Donegal TD Pearse Doherty recalled how he first met Martin McGuinness in 1993 during a Bloody Sunday event at Free Derry Corner.
“His Twitter account was forever tweeting pictures from Donegal. At the end of a busy day, Martin was known to head off just to watch the sunset over Donegal.
“We got talking about Donegal and why Sinn Féin was not as strong there as it should be. At the end of our chat he wrote Pat Doherty’s number for me on the back of a poster that I still have to this day.
“Martin McGuinness was our Nelson Mandela. We will never see the likes of him again.”
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