Spontaneous applause erupted in St Columba’s Church in Derry at the conclusion of Requiem Mass for author, journalist and feminist activist Nell McCafferty.
The coffin of Ms McCafferty, who died on Wednesday at the age of 80, was brought into the church on Friday to the hymn Bring Flowers of the Fairest.
As it was accompanied down the aisle by her family and friends at the end of Mass, mourners sang the Hymn to St Columba, the city’s patron saint.
Ms McCafferty’s cortège later left for a private cremation in Lakelands Crematorium.
In attendance were the Mayor of Derry and Strabane Lilian Seenoi-Barr, SDLP MLA for Foyle Sinead McLaughlin, and former vice-chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board Denis Bradley, as well as Liam Wray, the brother of Jim Wray who was killed on Bloody Sunday.
McCafferty’s sister Carmel, who is a playwright, was embraced by people outside the church on Friday.
At the beginning of Mass, celebrant Fr Stephen Ward extended a welcome to First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Commandants Deirdre Newell and Claire Mortimer, who were present representing President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Simon Harris.
Lifelong activist Eamonn McCann, a friend of Ms McCafferty’s for 70 years, said earlier this week “there was nobody like Nell”.
Delivering her eulogy before Mass, Mr McCann read excerpts from an article she had written about Bloody Sunday bearing the headline: ‘There will be another day’.
It gave a moving account of reaction to the news 13 Derry people had been shot dead by the British army who fired on a Civil Rights rally in the city on January 30, 1972.
Mr McCann said Bloody Sunday had had an effect on Ms McCafferty in terms of how she viewed politics, thought of Derry’s people and its marches.
He added: “Nell wrote, ‘Let it not be said of any of us that they died in vain. Stay free brothers and sisters, there will be another day’.
“And so there will be another day, but there will never be another Nell McCafferty,” he concluded to loud applause.
