Mary Nelis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mary Nelis
Nelis in 2012
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Foyle
In office 25 June 1998 – 15 July 2004
Preceded by	New Creation
Succeeded by	Raymond McCartney
Member of Derry City Council
In office 19 May 1993 – 5 May 2005
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 Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for the Foyle area. She represented the Sinn Féin political party from 1998 to 2004.

Mary Nelis's Early Life and Community Work

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, Mary started working at the Hogg and Mitchell shirt factory. In 1955, she married William Nelis. They had nine children together.

Starting Community Groups

In the early 1960s, Mary Nelis began organizing community groups. She started the first community association in the Foyle Hill estate. She helped other areas of the city create their own groups. This included the Protestant Fountain estate.

Working for Civil Rights

Mary Nelis became very active in the civil rights movement. This movement worked to get equal rights for all people in Derry. She also trained to be a teacher for adults who wanted to learn to read.

She helped start the Derry Reading Workshop. This group helped people who needed help with their education.

Supporting Prisoners' Rights

In 1974, Mary joined a political party called the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). She left the party a year later. In 1976, she became involved with the Relatives Action Committee. This group fought for the rights of prisoners.

Mary's work also led to the creation of Dove House. This is a resource center in the Bogside that helps young people. She also started the Templemore Co-op. This was a craft group for women who were very skilled at sewing.

Mary Nelis's Political Career

In 1981, Mary Nelis joined the Sinn Féin political party. She was elected to the Derry City Council in 1993. She served two terms on the council.

Serving in the Northern Ireland Assembly

In 1996, she ran for the Northern Ireland Forum election but was not elected. However, in 1998, she was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly. She was one of only 14 women out of 108 members.

She was re-elected in 2003. She resigned a year later in 2004 to care for her husband. Raymond McCartney took her place in the Assembly.

Current Role and Recognition

Mary Nelis is currently 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.

Mary Nelis writes a political column for the Sunday Journal newspaper. She also writes for the Sinn Féin newspaper, An Phoblacht.