Mary Nelis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Nelis
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Nelis in 2012
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| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Foyle |
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| In office 25 June 1998 – 15 July 2004 |
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| Preceded by | New Creation |
| Succeeded by | Raymond McCartney |
| Member of Derry City Council |
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| In office 19 May 1993 – 5 May 2005 |
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| Succeeded by | Gerry MacLochlainn |
| Constituency | Northland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1935 (age 89–90) Bogside, Derry, Northern Ireland |
| Political party | Sinn Féin (since 1981) |
| Other political affiliations |
SDLP (1974-1975) |
| Spouse | William Nelis |
| Website | Mary Nelis |
Mary Margaret Nelis is a former politician from Ireland. She was a member of the Sinn Féin political party. From 1998 to 2004, she served as a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for the area of Foyle.
About Mary Nelis
Mary Nelis was born in 1935 in the Bogside area of Derry, Northern Ireland. She was the oldest daughter of Catherine and Denis Elliott. She went to St Eugene's Convent School. At 14, she started working in a shirt factory.
In 1955, Mary married William Nelis. They had nine children together.
Community Work and Activism
In the early 1960s, Mary Nelis started the first community group in the Foyle Hill area. She helped other community groups begin in different parts of the city. This included the Protestant Fountain estate.
Mary became involved in the civil rights movement. This movement worked to get equal rights for everyone in the city. She also trained to teach adults how to read and write. She helped start the Derry Reading Workshop. This group helped people who needed help with their education.
In 1974, she joined the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). She left the party a year later. In 1976, she became active in the Relatives Action Committee. This group worked to support prisoners' rights.
Mary also worked with young people. This led to the creation of Dove House. It is a resource center in the Bogside. Later, she started the Templemore Co-op. This was a craft group for women who were very good at sewing.
Political Career
In 1981, Mary Nelis joined Sinn Féin. She was elected to the Derry City Council in 1993. She served two terms on the council.
In 1998, she was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly. She was one of only 14 women among 108 members. She was re-elected in 2003. However, she resigned a year later in 2004. She left to care for her husband, who was injured in a road accident. Raymond McCartney took her place in the Assembly.
Mary Nelis is now the Honorary President of Sinn Féin in Derry. She is the second person and the only woman to receive this honor. She was given the Paul O Dwyer Award by the IAUC. This award recognized her work for peace and justice in Ireland. She writes a political column in the Sunday Journal newspaper. She also writes for the Sinn Féin paper, An Phoblacht.
