The plight of a Cork widow struggling to raise her five children on social welfare payments.
The Widows' Association was founded in Dublin in 1967 to advocate for bereaved women seeking a fair deal for their children and themselves.
The chairperson of the Cork branch of the Irish Widows' Association is Maureen Black. She is gravely concerned about Margaret Brennan, a widow living in the Cork village of Timoleague. Since the death of her husband in April 1969, Margaret Brennan has been raising her five children, who range in age from 3 to 14 years.
Margaret Brennan receives a contributory pension and home assistance, which amounts to a total of £8 and 10 shillings a week. She is seeking advice as she needs at least £12 a week to feed her family and cover rates, bills, and rent. She often goes without food herself to feed her children. When one of her children was ill, she was unable to afford aspirin.
It is hard to see them suffering and I know their father wouldn’t wish it.
Maureen Black is very worried about Margret Brennan’s physical and mental health. Circumstances have created,
A woman who is really disturbed by the fact her family were going to be neglected through no fault of her own.
The Brennan family are not alone. Maureen Black says that there are 20,000 families in Ireland on a non-contributory pension who are worse off than the Brennans. Some widows may be able to work outside the home but,
If they dared to earn anything, would lose most of their own pension.
Maureen Black believes urgent change is needed to give more to widows and their children.
Minister for Labour and Minister for Social Welfare Joseph Brennan has informed Margaret Brennan that she is not entitled to any increase in payment at present.
This episode of 'Encounter’ was broadcast on 27 September 1970. The reporter is Frank Delaney.
'Encounter' was a live weekly programme featuring filmed reports examining the role of Christianity in contemporary life. It was presented by Bunny Carr.
