Bernadette Devlin, a 21-year-old student and civil rights activist, was elected as MP for Mid Ulster in an April 1969 by-election.
Bernadette Devlin stood for Independent Unity and was pitted against Anna Forrest of the Unionist Party, who was the widow of former MP George Forrest. There was a 91.5% electoral turnout and Devlin was elected with a majority of 4,211. She was the youngest woman ever elected to Westminster and was thrust into the glare of the world's media.
The accompanying photograph shows Bernadette Devlin being filmed for the RTÉ Television programme Féach, in April 1969.
The election for Mid Ulster's Westminster seat saw the first straight contest between two women in Northern Ireland politics and was labelled "the petticoat election" by the media.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Mike Burns (Reporter)
BERNADETTE DEVLIN
Tension at Rally in Support of Bernadette Devlin
Seán Duignan introduces a report from Don McManus in Moneymore, Derry, where a meeting in support of Bernadette Devlin is disrupted by supporters of Ian Paisley.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Don McManus (Reporter)
Sean Duignan (Presenter)
BERNADETTE DEVLIN
Bernadette Devlin Addresses Supporters
Bernadette Devlin addresses supporters at Draperstown, Co. Derry, where she identifies the enemy as the Ulster Unionist Party and not the ordinary working man who differs in religion.
Production Year
1969
BERNADETTE DEVLIN
Polling Day in Mid-Ulster By-Election
On the day of the election, Don McManus reports from Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, for the lunchtime news.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Don McManus (Reporter)
BERNADETTE DEVLIN
Bernadette Devlin Votes
On polling day, candidate Bernadette Devlin talks to Don McManus having cast her vote for the first time in an election.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Don McManus (Reporter)
BERNADETTE DEVLIN
Bernadette Devlin Elected
Sean Duignan and Andy O'Mahony report on the election of 21-year-old Bernadette Devlin as MP for Mid-Ulster. A tired Devlin declares that, "People of Mid Ulster, we have finally started to overcome."
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Sean Duignan (Reporter)
Andy O'Mahony (Reporter)
BERNADETTE DEVLIN
"We Must Have Some Justice, Mr Wilson Please"
An exhausted Bernadette Devlin tries to articulate her plans following victory in the Mid-Ulster by-election.
Production Year
1969
BERNADETTE DEVLIN
"I Have Been Elected To Serve The People of Mid Ulster. This I Will Do. All Of Them."
Bernadette Devlin answers questions about her appeal to Protestant voters and fields accusations of being a communist or just an ambitious young girl.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Rodney Rice (Reporter)
BERNADETTE DEVLIN
Victory Rally for Devlin
Bernadette Devlin is welcomed at a victory rally in Carrickmore, Co. Tyrone.
Production Year
1969
BERNADETTE DEVLIN
Newest Westminster MP Predicts Civil War
Newly-elected MP Bernadette Devlin describes what she saw in the Bogside and expresses her fears of a civil war in Northern Ireland.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Sean Duignan (Presenter)
Mike Burns (Reporter)
BERNADETTE DEVLIN
"Most Extraordinary Politician of the Year"
John Bowman reviews the events of the past year in Northern Ireland and reflects on the election of Bernadette Devlin, who he describes as "the most extraordinary politician of the year."
