Tributes have been paid to the Creggan civil rights activist Elizabeth 'Betty' Curran who died peacefully at her home on Thursday and was buried yesterday.
Mrs Curran, whose husband Willie pre-deceased her less than eleven months ago, was 85. She and WIllie were devoted to one another and had been married for almost 62 years at the time of his death in January.
Betty had lived in Rathlin Gardens for more than 50 years and was widely loved and respected. A lifelong republican, whose family endured many tribulations throughout the conflict, her coffin was adorned with the Tricolour.
In an oration at the graveside yesterday, the Foyle MP Elisha McCallion said Betty had been a lover of all things Irish - culture, dance, music and heritage - and had passed this on to her children.
"Betty and Willie were founding members of Comhaltas in Creggan and regularly travelled the length and breadth of Ireland to attend fleadheanna and festivals," the Sinn Fein MP said.
"Understanding what discrimination meant Betty joined Willie on civil rights campaigns and fought their entire lives to end discrimination and inequality. They marched on Bloody Sunday, and witnessed the murderous brutality of the Paras at first hand when they saw the shooting of John Johnston. As was characteristic of her, Betty selflessly and instinctively tried to go to his aid, but Willie held her back as others who ran out were shot. She supported the Bloody Sunday families every year in their long campaign for truth until the families were vindicated by the findings of the Saville Report.
"Throughout the conflict the Curran home was a place of safety and comfort for many people over the many years of struggle. The front door was always left open and the children were reared not to ask who was coming in. When the children were younger Betty told them that the men who came in were coming for photography lessons with Willie.
"While her house was always open, she was very house proud. She made a point of always making sure the house was spotless in case it was raised by British soldiers. She wouldn't have them going back to England telling people the Irish were messy!
"There is no doubt that women were the backbone of the republican struggle in this city and elsewhere with their commitment, determination and resilience. Betty was the embodiment of all of these."
Ms McCallion said that Betty and Willie had worked 'tirelessly and with great personal sacrifice' to ensure that their children would enjoy the comfort of a good home and other life opportunities.
Mine of stories
Betty was also a key collaborator with her husband in his film and photographic career. Willie, whose bestselling book 'My Derry' was published by Guildhall Press in 2015, rarely wrote anything down and relied extensively on Betty to caption and annotate his work.
A spokesperson for Guildhall Press said Betty was a 'wonderfully warm person'.
"Betty had an encyclopaedic knowledge of Derry faces and places of times gone by," he said. "She was a veritable mine of stories, which proved invaluable when it came to archiving WIllie's work.
"Betty was also a wonderfully warm person - a real delight to work with. She and WIllie, and the devotion they had for one another, were an inspiration to us all. They were a very special couple and made a huge impact on everyone here."
Betty is survived by her children, Hugh, Bríd, Betty, Suzanne and Marie, by her siblings Ann, Dennis, Seamus and Patsy, and by her grandchildren and great-children.
She was interred in the City Cemetery after midday Mass at St Mary's Chapel, Creggan yesterday.
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