February 11, 1995|By Richard O'Mara | Richard O'Mara,Sun Staff Writer
The protest marches led to the creation of the Community of the Peace People, a grass-roots organization that operates in Northern Ireland's cities trying to promote dialogue between Protestants and Catholics. Mrs. Maguire represents this organization when she travels to lecture on nonviolence.
The protest marches captured the attention of the world. Mrs. Maguire and Ms. Williams were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 1976. Mr. McKeown was left out. The 1970s was the United Nations' International Decade for Women, explained Mrs. Maguire. "That's why Ciaran didn't get it. It was sad."
Mrs. Maguire expressed delight with the cease-fire in Northern Ireland agreed to last summer and fall by the Irish Republican Army and the Protestant paramilitary organizations, and the slow drift toward peace in her homeland.
"Christmas in Belfast this year was absolutely wonderful," she said. "People for the first time in 25 years went out and enjoyed themselves. There is a great deal of hope that the cease-fire will hold," she said.
She added: "People say it's a miracle because they've been praying for it. It is quite miraculous."
