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

We were given total access to the wings to talk to whoever we wanted to talk to

Filming: Peter Taylor

Maze and Long Kesh

Peter comments on his experience of filming the documentary ‘Enemies Within’ in the H-Blocks.

Any news of any events or any beatings had to called around the jail

Communication: Michael Culbert

Maze and Long Kesh

Michael recounts how prisoners used to communicate across the H-Blocks.

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.

It was terrible to see an emaciated man lying on a bed in a cell

1981 Hunger Strike: Danny Morrison

Maze and Long Kesh

Danny describes visiting the prison hospital during the 1981 hunger strike.

The bride in her full regalia, her bridesmaids, would step out the back of a minibus

Weddings: William Murphy

Maze and Long Kesh

William talks about weddings inside the prison chapel.

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.

These lookout towers, they're also coming down

Demolition: Dessie Rodgers

Maze and Long Kesh

Dessie describes some of the demolition taking place at the Maze and Long Kesh site in 2007.

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.

At the later stages of the Blocks they introduced an unlocked system

Change in lock up: Christopher McWilliams and Martin McElkerney

Maze and Long Kesh

Martin and Chris discuss ‘lock up’ in the H-Blocks.

It looks escape-proof

Escapes: Kieran McEvoy

Maze and Long Kesh

Kieran talks about various escapes and escape attempts from prisons during the conflict.

I don’t think we should just erase it

Future of site: Colin Halliday

Maze and Long Kesh

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

Our families weren’t part of the consultation process

Hunger Strikes: Raymond McCartney

Maze and Long Kesh

Raymond reflects on the hunger strikes of 1980 and 1981.

You had the watchtowers, the barbed wire, you had Nissen huts

Compounds: William Plum Smith

Maze and Long Kesh

William talks about the basic design of the compounds/cages at Long Kesh.

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.

Nature is just reclaiming this

Exercise Yard: Amanda Dunsmore

Maze and Long Kesh

Amanda visits a H-Block exercise yard and reflects on the changes there over the years.

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.

He was the only baby in the wing. And at night when we’d go into lockup I’d sit and play with him.

Baby: Josie Dowds

Armagh Gaol

Josie talks about the experience of having a baby with her in Armagh Gaol.

I remember being in the van and seeing these gates opening

Arriving: Patricia Moore

Armagh Gaol

Patricia talks about her arrival at Armagh Gaol.

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