Mairead Corrigan Maguire
On August 10, 1976, a car chase between IRA and British
troops through Belfast, Northern Ireland, led to an accident
in which two of Mairead Corrigan Maguire's nephews and one
of her nieces were killed. Her sister, distraught over the
death of her children, took her own life several years later.
The incident led Maguire, a Catholic, and Betty Williams,
a Protestant, along with newspaper reporter Ciaran McKeown,
to found Peace People, a pioneering organization in the
movement to end sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.
They shared the 1976 Nobel Peace Prize for their work. Maguire
continues to work for global nonviolence as honorary life
president of Peace People.
Resources for Teachers
and Students
Reflections on Working
Towards Peace
