Artist and anti-war activist Margaretta D’Arcy, who died last Sunday aged 91, was campaigning right up until the end.

On Sunday, October 19, the peace activist who suffered serious debilitating illnesses, walked with the aid of a rollator from Spanish Arch to Eyre Square as part of a Galway Palestine Solidarity Campaign rally.

Days later, in what turned out to be her last media interview, the Áosdana member confirmed to the Connacht Tribune that she had handed back the honorary Doctors of Laws she was awarded in 2022 by University of Galway.

Describing it as a “de-conferring”, Ms D’Arcy returned all accoutrements related to the honour, including ceremonial garments and scroll, due to the university’s ties with the Israeli institute of technology, Technion. “We do not support the infrastructure security which is necessary to commit genocide in Gaza,” she said.

For context, Ms D’Arcy referenced her uncle, Levi Billig, an Ango-Jewish orientalist scholar of Arabic, who was shot dead by an Arab gunman in 1936.

“My uncle in the 1930s understood the need for equality between the language of Arabs and the Jews,” she said.

In the weeks before she was admitted to hospital, Ms D’Arcy was spotted on the city’s Headford Road – near her home in St. Bridget’s Place – distributing leaflets in favour of the Triple Lock.

A strong advocate of Irish neutrality, up until last month she was a regular attendee at the monthly Shannonwatch peace vigils at Shannon Airport.

Caption: Margaretta D’Arcy, peace activist, actress, writer and playwright at her home in Galway city, December 2022. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.

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