Martin McGuinness's mother Peggy dies aged 84
Monday, 6 October 2008
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Peggy McGuinness, the mother of Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness, has died at her home in Derry at the age of 84.
Peggy McGuinness died at 7am at her home on Elmwood Street after a short illness.
A Sinn Fein spokesman said that Mr McGuinness had spent the weekend at his mother’s home with other family members, leaving only to make a speech at the Civil Rights commemoration held in Derry.
In a joint statement, Sinn Fein MLAs Martina Anderson and Raymond McCartney today offered condolences on behalf of the party.
They said: “Peggy was a stalwart and a great supporter of the republican cause and she will be sorely missed.”
Mrs McGuinness once told the BBC’s Real Lives programme how she worried about her son. “Any mother would worry who had a son involved in a political struggle. I worry all the time about his safety and about all the family,” she said.
A photograph of Mr McGuinness, his mother and grandchildren on Derry’s Walls recently featured in an exhibition, The Northern Ireland Family, which was commissioned by Help the Aged to mark 21 years of work with the elderly in Northern Ireland.
A book, entitled The Northern Ireland Family Album, accompanied the exhibition.
Her culinary talents made headlines last year, when outgoing Assistant Chief Constable Peter Sheridan told an amusing anecdote about tasting her cooking while visiting the home of Derry writer, Nell McCafferty, two years earlier.
He said Ms McCafferty gave him a bowl of soup, that she said was made by Peggy McGuinness.
Two days later, Mr Sheridan was in Downing Street with Tony Blair for the first official meeting between Sinn Fein and the PSNI.
As everybody shook hands on the way out, he said to Martin McGuinness: “Your mother makes good soup.”
Mr Sheridan said later: “He looked surprised. 'Where did you taste my mother's soup?' he asked. 'Come back to the next meeting and I'll tell you!' I said."
SDLP leader Mark Durkan, who is also from Derry, says he has offered his sincere condolences to her family.
“I am saddened to hear of the death of Peggy McGuinness. She was a very kindly woman with real charm," he said.
“I offer sincere condolences to Martin McGuinness and Peggy’s entire family at their sad loss.”
Mr Durkan said Mrs McGuinness was a very kindly woman with real charm.
Mrs McGuinness's funeral will be held on Wednesday at 11.15am in St. Columba's Church, Longtower.
She will be laid to rest in St. Mary's Cemetery, Cockhill, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.
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I'm sorry for your lost martin.
Posted by conor hughes | 31.10.08, 21:50 GMT
R.I.P Mrs McGuinness, chin up Martin, my thoughts are with you and yours.
Posted by Sam P | 12.10.08, 18:36 GMT
My condoleanses. Maria
Posted by Maria T-K, Moskwa | 10.10.08, 17:38 GMT
Martin,
I lost my mother this year also. It has been a long hard road back but I am getting there, and you will too.
We met in Cleveland Ohio a few years ago and our picture together is on top of my television. My mother and your mother sound a lot alike. Faithful, loving, and supportive. We talked evryday also and my heart aches for your loss.
Posted by Casey | 08.10.08, 21:53 GMT
Paul...did the McGuinness family suffer more during the troubles than any other family in Northern Ireland? I don't think so. Every family living in our little country during those 30 years suffered in one way or another.
RIP Mrs McGuinness
Posted by Raki Diva | 08.10.08, 16:42 GMT
Very sorry to hear of Peggy's death, though she would have died a very proud woman seeing her son as first minister for the north. Who would have dreamed of it in 1980? I'm sure she suffered along with all of the Guinness family for their part in our struggle.
Posted by paul | 07.10.08, 08:14 GMT
My condolences to Martin and the McGuinness Family on your
great lost. May she rest in peace,
Jimmy Q. N.Y.C.
Posted by Jimmy Q | 07.10.08, 04:11 GMT
my mother's name was peggy mc ginniss also - she, like mrs mcguinness was a lovley lady. Maybe they will meet up in heaven.
Posted by frank | 06.10.08, 22:00 GMT
i once heard that martin mcguinness phoned his mother everyday as do i ,without fail...my deepest sympathy to the mcguinnes family
Posted by sylvia doherty | 06.10.08, 17:43 GMT
he lost a good friend, and a good mother will say a prayer
Posted by bettyogbebor | 06.10.08, 17:38 GMT
This has to be the saddest moment for anyone to lose there mother. My total condolences to you Martin and your family. And with this I just hope this will give you the strenglth to fufill your position in office.
Posted by martin blythe | 06.10.08, 16:54 GMT
May God bless you and keep you, Martin McGuinness.
Posted by JerryF | 06.10.08, 16:40 GMT
It must have been a great source of pride for her to see her son play such an important role in the present peace process. I hope that just as the death of John Divine Sr inspired the Tyrone team to win the All-Ireland GAA football final in Dublin, that in someway the death of this gentle woman may inspire Sinn Fein to find a way to move forward with the DUP through the present political impasse.
May her gentle soul rest in peace.
Posted by John Taggart | 06.10.08, 16:34 GMT
Mr. McGuinness,
We were very sorry to hear of the death of your mom. She was well regarded here in Boston.
Posted by Francie | 06.10.08, 16:10 GMT
To lose a mother is to lose part of ones self my condolences to all her family
Posted by Caroline | 06.10.08, 15:58 GMT