It did not seem to me that prejudice, poverty, discrimination, repression and racism were confined to the North of Ireland. I could see them everywhere I spoke and still cannot comprehend the mentality that argues that I should have pretended not to see them, because it wasn't my business.

To gain that which is worth having, it may be necessary to lose everything else

The Irish aren't great singers, but they have great songs.

I went to a very militantly Republican grammar school and, under its influence, began to revolt against the Establishment, on thesimple rule of thumb, highly satisfying to a ten-year-old, that Irish equals good, English equals bad.

It wasn't long before people discovered the final horrors of letting an urchin into Parliament.

I think my life will always be worth living, though I don't imagine it being very easy.

We were born into an unjust system; we are not prepared to grow old in it.