Margaretta D'Arcy facts for kids

Margaretta Ruth D'Arcy (born 14 June 1934, London) is an Irish actress, writer, and activist. She is known for her strong views on Irish nationalism, civil liberties, and women's rights.

Margaretta has been a member of Aosdána, an Irish group for artists, since it started. In 2014, she was put in prison for protesting at Shannon Airport about United States military planes stopping there.

Early Life and Theatre Work

Margaretta D'Arcy was born in London. Her mother was Russian-Jewish, and her father was Irish-Catholic. When she was 15, she started working in small theatres in Dublin. Later, she became an actress.

In 1957, she married John Arden, an English writer. They often worked together. They moved to Galway in Ireland and started the Galway Theatre Workshop in 1976. They had five sons.

Margaretta and John wrote many plays and improvisational works. Some of their famous works include The Happy Haven and The Workhouse Donkey. Margaretta also wrote and produced plays on her own, like The Non-Stop Connolly Show.

She has also written several books. These include Tell Them Everything, Awkward Corners (with John Arden), and Galway's Pirate Women: A Global Trawl.

Standing Up for What's Right

Margaretta D'Arcy is well-known for her activism. This means she actively works to bring about social or political change.

In 1961, she joined the Committee of 100. This group, led by Bertrand Russell, protested against nuclear weapons.

In 1981, her peace activism led to her being held in Armagh Jail. She had written on a wall at the Ulster Museum as a protest. Her book Tell Them Everything shares her experiences during the Armagh and H-Block protests. It was one of the first stories about the women in Armagh and their fight for change.

Margaretta also directed a film called Yellow Gate Women. This film was about women at the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp. They tried to stop the British and US military using bolt cutters and legal challenges.

Since 1987, she has challenged censorship. She even ran a women's pirate radio station from her home in Galway!

Protesting at Shannon Airport

In 2011, Margaretta D'Arcy made a strong protest at an Aosdána meeting. She refused to stand for a minute of silence. She later told the media that her actions were deliberate. This caused a lot of discussion.

In October 2012, she was arrested with Niall Farrell. They climbed the fence at Shannon Airport to protest. They were against the airport being used as a stopover for US military flights.

She was later imprisoned in 2014. This happened because she refused to promise that she would not trespass on non-public parts of Shannon Airport again. She was released after serving about nine and a half weeks.

Groups Margaretta D'Arcy Belongs To

• Aosdána (member since it started)
• Member of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)
• Executive member of AMARC's Women's International Network (WIN)

Creative Works

Margaretta D'Arcy has created many plays, books, and films.

Books Written

Her books include:

• Tell Them Everything
• Awkward Corners (with John Arden)
• Galway's Pirate Women: A Global Trawl

Plays She Wrote

Her plays include:

• The Pinprick of History
• Vandaleur's Folly
• Women's Voices from W. of Ireland
• Prison-voice of Countess Markievicz
• Lajwaad (The Good People, adapted from a play by Abdel Kader Alloula)
• Dublin

Group Plays She Helped Create

Plays developed as group productions include:

• Muggins is a Martyr
• The Vietnam War-game
• 200 Years of Labour
• The Mongrel Fox
• No Room at the Inn
• Mary's Name
• Seán O'Scrúdu
• Silence

Plays Written with John Arden

Plays written in collaboration with John Arden include:

• The Business of Good Government
• The Happy Haven
• Ars Longa Vita Brevis
• The Royal Pardon
• The Hero Rises Up
• The Ballygombeen Bequest
• The Non-Stop Connolly Show
• The Island of the Mighty, A Trilogy (1972)
• Keep the People Moving (BBC Radio)
• Portrait of a Rebel (RTÉ Television)
• The Manchester Enthusiasts (BBC 1984 and RTÉ 1984, also called The Ralahine Experiment)
• Whose is the Kingdom? (9-part radio play, BBC 1987)

Films She Directed

Films she directed or that were produced by Women in Media & Entertainment include:

• Yellow Gate Women (2007): Shown at the 'Galway Film Fleadh' and Independent International Video & Film Festival (New York).
• Shell Hell (2005): Co-directed by Finn Arden. Shown at Galway Arts Festival, the 'Stranger than Fiction Festival' at the IFC (Dublin) and the Human Rights Documentary Festival (Glasgow).
• Big Plane, Small Axe (2005): This film was about the trials of Mary Kelly. It won 2nd Prize for Best Feature Documentary at Galway Film Fleadh. It was also shown at Cork Film Festival, Portobello Film Festival, Human Rights Documentary Festival (Glasgow), and the Irish Film Festival (San Francisco).
• Circus Exposé (1987): Shown at the Celtic Film Festival (Inverness) and Foyle Festival (Derry).

See also

• List of peace activists