The former student activist and now newly elected MP Bernadette Devlin talks about the challenges she faces in London.
At twenty two years of age, Bernadette Devlin is the youngest woman ever to take a seat at Westminster. Just over a week earlier on 18 April still aged twenty one she won a by-election in Mid Ulster.
Having made her maiden speech in the House of Commons Bernadette Devlin was back home in Ulster when she spoke to 'Féach'.
She describes finding it hard to be away knowing what is going on back home. People in London do not understand the issues that are facing people in Ulster,
Tá sé an-deacair a bheith ag caint leo i gcúpla bomaite, an rud a mhiniú, agus chomh deacair is atá sé in Uladh, 's chomh tábhachtach is atá sé.
Although people listened to her first speech and she was well received, Bernadette Develin does not feel that her fellow MPs understand the situation in Northern Ireland,
D’éist siad...ach níor thuig siad focal.
Her task, as she see it, is threefold: to work for human rights for the people of Ulster; speak in Westminster on their behalf; and continue to work in her constituency of Mid Ulster. A challenge by anyone's standards, but it will get done,
Is deacair na trí rud a dhéanamh le chéile, ach sin an rud atá le deanamh agam.
This episode of 'Féach' was broadcast on 27 April 1969. The reporter is Breandán Ó hEithir.
The interview took place on 25 April 1969 in Bernadette's uncle's house in Cookstown, County Tyrone.
Bernadette Devlin and cameraman Bestick Williams (1969) Photo by Peter Dorney.
