Mary Holland
Encyclopedia
Mary Holland was an Irish
journalist
who specialised in writing about Ireland
, and in particular Northern Ireland
. Born in Dover but raised in Ireland, she married a British diplomat, Ronald Higgins; they lived in Indonesia
, but the marriage was eventually annulled.
Originally working in fashion for Vogue magazine and then The Observer
. She came to prominence as one of the first British journalists to report on the rise of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association
(NICRA) and became an increasingly prominent commentator on the affairs of the region.
In 1977 Conor Cruise O'Brien
was appointed editor-in-chief of the paper. O'Brien was a writer and politician, who served as a government minister in the Oireachtas
(Irish Parliament). He was often criticized for his uncompromising opposition towards "physical force Irish republicanism
", and his actions to that end during Liam Cosgrave
's tenure as Taoiseach were labelled as censorship by some. Shortly after starting as editor, O'Brien sent a memo to Holland: Holland subsequently left the Observer and joined The Irish Times
as the Northern Ireland correspondent, becoming perhaps the most widely respected journalist in Ireland.
Her awards included the Prix Italia award for her television documentary on the Creggan in Derry (Creggan, 1980), and, in 1989, the Ewart-Biggs memorial prize for the promotion of peace and understanding in Ireland. She wrote and campaigned for abortion rights in Ireland and admitted, in an article on the topic of abortion, that she had had one.
, and is survived by her children with fellow journalist
Eamonn McCann
: Kitty and Luke, both of whom are journalists like their parents.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
who specialised in writing about Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and in particular Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Born in Dover but raised in Ireland, she married a British diplomat, Ronald Higgins; they lived in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, but the marriage was eventually annulled.
Originally working in fashion for Vogue magazine and then The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
. She came to prominence as one of the first British journalists to report on the rise of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association
Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association
The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association was an organisation which campaigned for equal civil rights for the all the people in Northern Ireland during the late 1960s and early 1970s...
(NICRA) and became an increasingly prominent commentator on the affairs of the region.
In 1977 Conor Cruise O'Brien
Conor Cruise O'Brien
Conor Cruise O'Brien often nicknamed "The Cruiser", was an Irish politician, writer, historian and academic. Although his opinion on the role of Britain in Northern Ireland changed over the course of the 1970s and 1980s, he always acknowledge values of, as he saw, the two irreconcilable traditions...
was appointed editor-in-chief of the paper. O'Brien was a writer and politician, who served as a government minister in the Oireachtas
Oireachtas
The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...
(Irish Parliament). He was often criticized for his uncompromising opposition towards "physical force Irish republicanism
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
", and his actions to that end during Liam Cosgrave
Liam Cosgrave
Liam Cosgrave is an Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Taoiseach and as Leader of Fine Gael . He was a Teachta Dála from 1943 to 1981....
's tenure as Taoiseach were labelled as censorship by some. Shortly after starting as editor, O'Brien sent a memo to Holland: Holland subsequently left the Observer and joined The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
as the Northern Ireland correspondent, becoming perhaps the most widely respected journalist in Ireland.
Her awards included the Prix Italia award for her television documentary on the Creggan in Derry (Creggan, 1980), and, in 1989, the Ewart-Biggs memorial prize for the promotion of peace and understanding in Ireland. She wrote and campaigned for abortion rights in Ireland and admitted, in an article on the topic of abortion, that she had had one.
Death
She died, twelve days before her 69th birthday, from sclerodermaScleroderma
Systemic sclerosis or systemic scleroderma is a systemic autoimmune disease or systemic connective tissue disease that is a subtype of scleroderma.-Skin symptoms:...
, and is survived by her children with fellow journalist
Eamonn McCann
Eamonn McCann
Eamonn McCann is an Irish journalist, author and political activist.-Life:McCann was born and has lived most of his life in Derry. He was educated at St. Columb's College in the city. He is prominently featured in the documentary film The Boys of St...
: Kitty and Luke, both of whom are journalists like their parents.
External links
- Guardian obituary
- http://www.hospice-foundation.ie/cfmdocs/pdf/M.%20Robinson%20address.pdfAddress by Mary RobinsonMary RobinsonMary Therese Winifred Robinson served as the seventh, and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. She first rose to prominence as an academic, barrister, campaigner and member of the Irish Senate...
at the inaugural Mary Holland Commemorative Lecture, 7 July 2005] - Tributes to Mary Holland