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

You felt a bit of a voyeur being there as a journalist actually

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.

You would need to have a heart of stone not to feel some sympathy

1981 Hunger Strike: John Hetherington

Maze and Long Kesh

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

My illusions were shattered with this ‘University of Long Kesh’ - that wasn’t the case

Disillusionment: Eddie McGarrigle

Maze and Long Kesh

Eddie reflects back on his arrival at the H-Blocks and his disappointment at the lack of debate.

Everyone had to have a cell mate in a cell that was only made for one

H-Blocks: Michael Smith

Maze and Long Kesh

Michael talks about conditions in the H-Blocks, when prisoners were ‘doubled up’ in the cells.

This is an architecture that grew out of the whole horrific conflict situation

Architecture: Fr. Oliver Crilly

Maze and Long Kesh

Oliver comments on the link between the architecture of the H-Blocks and the wider conflict.

We were all dressed in black and we had our makeup on

Escape Attempt: Evelyn Brady and Cate Mackie

Armagh Gaol

Evelyn recounts an attempted escape from Armagh Gaol.

Our roles seemed to be running after people all the time

Probation: Valerie Owens and Eleanor Mulligan

Maze and Long Kesh

Valerie talks about the experience of working as a probation officer in the Maze and Long Kesh Prison.

I became known as the Tory minister who had a Stickie for a sister

Ideology: Alexander Gowrie

Maze and Long Kesh

Alexander comments on the ideological differences between Provisional IRA and Official IRA prisoners.

The first question he posed to everyone was: ‘Why are you here, son?’

‘Why are you here?’ William Mitchell

Maze and Long Kesh

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

'Attending an Irish class' meant standing up by the door and listening

Irish classes: Jake MacSiacais

Maze and Long Kesh

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

Somebody was nominated to come out, whether it was rain, hail or snow

Yard: Seamus Holmes

Maze and Long Kesh

Seamus talks about the importance of the H-Block exercise yard.

When you got outside, you were just a number

Life After Prison: Dee Stitt

Maze and Long Kesh

Dee talks about a loss of identity and sense of cohesion upon release from prison.

Every time he came up to see me in prison he used to cry

Visitors: Angela Nelson

Armagh Gaol

Angela describes her father’s reaction to visiting her at Armagh Gaol.

We sawed the screws off

Escape Cell: Evelyn Brady and Cate Mackie

Armagh Gaol

Evelyn and Cate visit a cell that was used during an escape attempt from Armagh Gaol.

It was the pressures of the job, the pressures they came under, that drove them to what they did

Pressure: Andy Killen

Maze and Long Kesh

Andy talks about the impact of the pressures faced by prison officers.

Opened in 1989, sadly as a PR exercise

Prison Chapel: William Murphy

Maze and Long Kesh

William describes the prison chapel at Maze and Long Kesh.

We had a very, very extensive library in our compound

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.

Our cell was unlocked 24 hours

H-Block cell: Martin McMonagle

Maze and Long Kesh

Martin visits a H-Block cell and talks about how life in the H-Blocks changed over time.
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