A selection of extracts from PMA recordings at Armagh Gaol and Maze and Long Kesh. Hear from former prisoners, prison officers, journalists, teachers and more.

Prison Site
Perspective
Time Period

1981 Hunger Strike: Pat Sheehan

Maze and Long Kesh

Pat talks about the impact of the 1981 hunger strike.

H-Block Cell: Dee and William Stitt

Maze and Long Kesh

Dee talks about how some of the prisoners would decorate and furnish their cells during the 1990s.

Irish classes: Jake MacSiacais

Maze and Long Kesh

Jake talks about ‘classes’ in the H-Blocks during the blanket protest.

Release: Anne Cadwallader

Maze and Long Kesh

Anne recounts the day that many prisoners were released from Maze and Long Kesh following the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

Support: Ronnie White and Donna McCulloch

Maze and Long Kesh

Ronnie talks about the lack of support for prison officers following traumatic events.

Joining Probation: Valerie Owens and Eleanor Mulligan

Maze and Long Kesh

Eleanor reflects on her reasons for joining the probation service.

Education: Maurice Kennedy

Maze and Long Kesh

Maurice reflects on the value placed on education – and educators – by the prisoners.

Education: Harry Donaghy and Sean O’Hare

Maze and Long Kesh

Harry (left) and Sean (right) talk about education during internment and the library in their cage.

Prank: Angela Nelson

Armagh Gaol

Angela describes a prank played on new prisoners.

Irish Class: Roisin White

Armagh Gaol

Roisin talks about her experience as an Irish teacher at Armagh Gaol.

‘Why are you here?’ William Mitchell

Maze and Long Kesh

William talks about first meeting Gusty Spence in a compound of Long Kesh.

1981 Hunger Strike: John Hetherington

Maze and Long Kesh

John visits the hospital and reflects on the 1981 hunger strike.

Colour: Jenny Meegan

Maze and Long Kesh

Jenny talks about the grey, sterile environment of the H-Blocks, and the lack of colour in the prisoners’ environment.

Education: Bobby Rogers

Maze and Long Kesh

Bobby talks about how education was encouraged and supported by the organisation outside the prison.

Quaker Visitor Centre: Vincent Bent

Maze and Long Kesh

Vincent describes the lack of conflict between visitors to the Quaker Visitor Centre, located just outside the Maze and Long Kesh site.

Handicrafts: David and William Stitt

Maze and Long Kesh

William points out a H-Block cell used for doing handicrafts.

Future of site: Colin Halliday

Maze and Long Kesh

Colin talks about the future of the Maze and Long Kesh site.

Education: Séanna Walsh

Maze and Long Kesh

Séanna talks about the value of educating himself in prison.