Extracts - Prisons Memory Archive

It was a little haven

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.

I ended up doing a course in History and Politics – what else I suppose?

Education: Séanna Walsh

Maze and Long Kesh

Séanna talks about the value of educating himself in prison.

The only book I was told a prisoner wasn’t allowed was ‘Spycatcher’

Prison Library: Daphne Scroggie

Armagh Gaol

Daphne talks about her experience working in the Library while a Prison Officer at Armagh Gaol.

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.

It took them years to accept that they had a duty of care

Support: Ronnie White and Donna McCulloch

Maze and Long Kesh

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

They’d have a roll call, they’d have a parade

Military Structure: Peter Taylor

Maze and Long Kesh

Peter talks about how a military regime and structure operated in the cages.

Life was very different, you know, during those different phases

H-Blocks: Séanna Walsh

Maze and Long Kesh

Séanna talks about the different periods of time in the H-Blocks.

Men found it more difficult to visit the jail

Visits: Laurence McKeown

Maze and Long Kesh

Laurence recounts the first time his father visited him in prison, whilst Laurence was in the prison hospital on hunger strike.

You’d start this process of coming into this incredible goliath of a building

Entering the Prison: Amanda Dunsmore

Maze and Long Kesh

Amanda talks about the process of entering the prison.

This magnificent thing here is a very expressive drawing which indicates a trapped individual

Prisoner Artwork: Brian Maguire

Maze and Long Kesh

Brian looks through artwork produced in art classes in the H-Blocks.

They threw us in here just after the hunger strike

Prison work: John Knocker

Maze and Long Kesh

John talks about working in metal fabrications.

Once that door's closed, that's you going into a different world

Lock up: Seamus Holmes

Maze and Long Kesh

Seamus talks about the effect of ‘lock up’ on prisoners.

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.

‘You came in on a good day, we’re going swimming today’

Prank: Angela Nelson

Armagh Gaol

Angela describes a prank played on new prisoners.

The place here was run very much like a prisoner of war camp

H-Blocks: Kenneth Simpson

Maze and Long Kesh

Kenneth talks about the organisation of the H-Blocks.

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.

Round about 40 days my eyesight started to go

1981 Hunger Strike: Laurence McKeown

Maze and Long Kesh

Laurence describes the impact of his hunger strike on his eyesight and sense of smell.

Cell one on the wing was the handicrafts cell

Handicrafts: David and William Stitt

Maze and Long Kesh

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