lovely be here tonight quite symbolic actually they were all selling
actually they were all selling
actually they were all selling installment with no government to speak
installment with no government to speak
installment with no government to speak off with such wonderful speakers and
off with such wonderful speakers and
off with such wonderful speakers and such intelligence and when Elizabeth was
such intelligence and when Elizabeth was
such intelligence and when Elizabeth was talking about her pride years of her
talking about her pride years of her
talking about her pride years of her country I was thinking about her pride
country I was thinking about her pride
country I was thinking about her pride we all are of Northern Ireland and what
we all are of Northern Ireland and what
we all are of Northern Ireland and what would be our equivalent to your bridge
would be our equivalent to your bridge
would be our equivalent to your bridge it was probably this place but it’s just
it was probably this place but it’s just
it was probably this place but it’s just not working at the moment but we’ll get
not working at the moment but we’ll get
not working at the moment but we’ll get there
there
there so on to my story walking down Royal
so on to my story walking down Royal
so on to my story walking down Royal Avenue in Belfast I saw a little stall
Avenue in Belfast I saw a little stall
Avenue in Belfast I saw a little stall with pictures there was pictures of
with pictures there was pictures of
with pictures there was pictures of Harland and Wolff’s pictures off you
Harland and Wolff’s pictures off you
Harland and Wolff’s pictures off you know the carrick-a-rede rope bridge the
know the carrick-a-rede rope bridge the
know the carrick-a-rede rope bridge the pictures that the tourist stop and buy
pictures that the tourist stop and buy
pictures that the tourist stop and buy from the cruise ships the black hedges
from the cruise ships the black hedges
from the cruise ships the black hedges weren’t there because at that stage they
weren’t there because at that stage they
weren’t there because at that stage they weren’t famous in the back I saw this
weren’t famous in the back I saw this
weren’t famous in the back I saw this picture and it touched me I quietly
picture and it touched me I quietly
picture and it touched me I quietly asked how much was it and I put up my
asked how much was it and I put up my
asked how much was it and I put up my bag and covered it up and I brought it
bag and covered it up and I brought it
bag and covered it up and I brought it home and I put it in a dine stirrers
home and I put it in a dine stirrers
home and I put it in a dine stirrers bathroom and nobody would see it I don’t
bathroom and nobody would see it I don’t
bathroom and nobody would see it I don’t know why I did that
know why I did that
know why I did that but I did that this picture is off a
but I did that this picture is off a
but I did that this picture is off a chair with a chi m to the wall the
chair with a chi m to the wall the
chair with a chi m to the wall the prisons in northern ireland and the 70s
prisons in northern ireland and the 70s
prisons in northern ireland and the 70s were full of chairs like this if you
were full of chairs like this if you
were full of chairs like this if you were a child visiting a prison this is
were a child visiting a prison this is
were a child visiting a prison this is the chair you sat on I was a child
the chair you sat on I was a child
the chair you sat on I was a child visiting a prison this is the chair i
visiting a prison this is the chair i
visiting a prison this is the chair i sat on I’ve said it how many people in
sat on I’ve said it how many people in
sat on I’ve said it how many people in Northern Ireland in the early 1970s were
Northern Ireland in the early 1970s were
Northern Ireland in the early 1970s were the children of prisoners the prison
the children of prisoners the prison
the children of prisoners the prison population without 400 percent in the
population without 400 percent in the
population without 400 percent in the late 60s early 70s but we don’t hear
late 60s early 70s but we don’t hear
late 60s early 70s but we don’t hear about these children we hear a lot about
about these children we hear a lot about
about these children we hear a lot about the prisoners are locked indeed many of
the prisoners are locked indeed many of
the prisoners are locked indeed many of them roam these halls but what of those
them roam these halls but what of those
them roam these halls but what of those children I know some and they don’t tell
children I know some and they don’t tell
children I know some and they don’t tell people and they’re across all society my
people and they’re across all society my
people and they’re across all society my first job after University was to go
first job after University was to go
first job after University was to go work with a probation service
work with a probation service
work with a probation service what better job could I have I was quite
what better job could I have I was quite
what better job could I have I was quite passionate about rehabilitation and
passionate about rehabilitation and
passionate about rehabilitation and helping people and I find that when I
helping people and I find that when I
helping people and I find that when I went into my job there were two groups
went into my job there were two groups
went into my job there were two groups or prisoners there were the ODC s and
or prisoners there were the ODC s and
or prisoners there were the ODC s and there were what we called the politicals
there were what we called the politicals
there were what we called the politicals and some people called the terrorists
and some people called the terrorists
and some people called the terrorists the Oh DC’s ordinary decent criminal
the Oh DC’s ordinary decent criminal
the Oh DC’s ordinary decent criminal they were the rapist the burglars all of
they were the rapist the burglars all of
they were the rapist the burglars all of those people that didn’t have a
those people that didn’t have a
those people that didn’t have a political crime where the OD sees as I
political crime where the OD sees as I
political crime where the OD sees as I read the files I couldn’t believe was
read the files I couldn’t believe was
read the files I couldn’t believe was some of the stuff that I read right
some of the stuff that I read right
some of the stuff that I read right across all of the files I have to say
across all of the files I have to say
across all of the files I have to say bit traumatized they’re really young
bit traumatized they’re really young
bit traumatized they’re really young offenders and oh my those young
offenders and oh my those young
offenders and oh my those young offenders I struggled when I read the
offenders I struggled when I read the
offenders I struggled when I read the files to find one just one that had a
files to find one just one that had a
files to find one just one that had a decent home a decent upbringing every
decent home a decent upbringing every
decent home a decent upbringing every one of them had something that had
one of them had something that had
one of them had something that had happened to them they might have been
happened to them they might have been
happened to them they might have been filled at school if not by their family
filled at school if not by their family
filled at school if not by their family but there was always something that led
but there was always something that led
but there was always something that led to them to the place that they ended up
to them to the place that they ended up
to them to the place that they ended up and I loved my job my boss was great and
and I loved my job my boss was great and
and I loved my job my boss was great and I got promoted
I got promoted
I got promoted I bought this we hice 108 Balfour Avenue
I bought this we hice 108 Balfour Avenue
I bought this we hice 108 Balfour Avenue to on the lower armor Road it’s all I
to on the lower armor Road it’s all I
to on the lower armor Road it’s all I could afford
could afford
could afford I play classical music and I painted the
I play classical music and I painted the
I play classical music and I painted the walls and thought maybe I was becoming
walls and thought maybe I was becoming
walls and thought maybe I was becoming what I always wanted to be a
what I always wanted to be a
what I always wanted to be a professional person breakthrough be
professional person breakthrough be
professional person breakthrough be something special be something better my
something special be something better my
something special be something better my boss called me in and said the whole
boss called me in and said the whole
boss called me in and said the whole team is moving inside of the prison to
team is moving inside of the prison to
team is moving inside of the prison to do our rehabilitation
do our rehabilitation
do our rehabilitation I was excited I’d already been promoted
I was excited I’d already been promoted
I was excited I’d already been promoted I’d given up my masters because he
I’d given up my masters because he
I’d given up my masters because he wanted me to do the full-time job
wanted me to do the full-time job
wanted me to do the full-time job yes you’re not coming me I’m not coming
yes you’re not coming me I’m not coming
yes you’re not coming me I’m not coming not better than everybody here why why
not better than everybody here why why
not better than everybody here why why not coming don’t worry dear it’s nothing
not coming don’t worry dear it’s nothing
not coming don’t worry dear it’s nothing to do with you it’s because of where
to do with you it’s because of where
to do with you it’s because of where you’re from and who you really added to
you’re from and who you really added to
you’re from and who you really added to I packed up my car two weeks later and I
I packed up my car two weeks later and I
I packed up my car two weeks later and I went to London twenty-two years of age
went to London twenty-two years of age
went to London twenty-two years of age heartbroken absolutely still heartbroken
heartbroken absolutely still heartbroken
heartbroken absolutely still heartbroken how could that happen in our society how
how could that happen in our society how
how could that happen in our society how could we ask people to move forward how
could we ask people to move forward how
could we ask people to move forward how could we ask people to work together be
could we ask people to work together be
could we ask people to work together be together and treat people like that
together and treat people like that
together and treat people like that who was doing this why I didn’t do
who was doing this why I didn’t do
who was doing this why I didn’t do anything all I ever wanted was the best
anything all I ever wanted was the best
anything all I ever wanted was the best for everyone I went to university and I
for everyone I went to university and I
for everyone I went to university and I had friends whose dads when they are you
had friends whose dads when they are you
had friends whose dads when they are you see I made friends English friends whose
see I made friends English friends whose
see I made friends English friends whose parents have been soldiers here I made
parents have been soldiers here I made
parents have been soldiers here I made friends across the page me we didn’t
friends across the page me we didn’t
friends across the page me we didn’t care where we were from we cared about
care where we were from we cared about
care where we were from we cared about what our moral compass was who we were
what our moral compass was who we were
what our moral compass was who we were guess what it isn’t all bad I had a
guess what it isn’t all bad I had a
guess what it isn’t all bad I had a fantastic career you know when you go
fantastic career you know when you go
fantastic career you know when you go somewhere else all they care about is
somewhere else all they care about is
somewhere else all they care about is how good you are they don’t care about
how good you are they don’t care about
how good you are they don’t care about what your address was they don’t care
what your address was they don’t care
what your address was they don’t care about who you’re related to they don’t
about who you’re related to they don’t
about who you’re related to they don’t care about anything else they want to
care about anything else they want to
care about anything else they want to know guess what what are you putting on
know guess what what are you putting on
know guess what what are you putting on the bottom line is my company well guess
the bottom line is my company well guess
the bottom line is my company well guess what ladies and gents that wasn’t that
what ladies and gents that wasn’t that
what ladies and gents that wasn’t that difficult for me
difficult for me
difficult for me I was hard-working I was ambitious I had
I was hard-working I was ambitious I had
I was hard-working I was ambitious I had something driving me something bigger
something driving me something bigger
something driving me something bigger and maybe maybe maybe it was the chance
and maybe maybe maybe it was the chance
and maybe maybe maybe it was the chance there was always something no matter how
there was always something no matter how
there was always something no matter how well I did I worked all over a year it
well I did I worked all over a year it
well I did I worked all over a year it got boring I wanted to be home has three
got boring I wanted to be home has three
got boring I wanted to be home has three little children I’m one of them’s here
little children I’m one of them’s here
little children I’m one of them’s here and I decided to bring them back to this
and I decided to bring them back to this
and I decided to bring them back to this godforsaken place that I love and I
godforsaken place that I love and I
godforsaken place that I love and I brought them back at my gorgeous English
brought them back at my gorgeous English
brought them back at my gorgeous English husband to this it was 2012 and it was
husband to this it was 2012 and it was
husband to this it was 2012 and it was the flag protest and I thought oh my god
the flag protest and I thought oh my god
the flag protest and I thought oh my god what have I done
what have I done
what have I done what have I done I thought our society
what have I done I thought our society
what have I done I thought our society had moved forward oh no and I started to
had moved forward oh no and I started to
had moved forward oh no and I started to try and understand what was going on
try and understand what was going on
try and understand what was going on within unionist culture and I thought
within unionist culture and I thought
within unionist culture and I thought rather than set up the Malone Road with
rather than set up the Malone Road with
rather than set up the Malone Road with a very nice salary keep myself to myself
a very nice salary keep myself to myself
a very nice salary keep myself to myself keep my kids in a good grammar school
keep my kids in a good grammar school
keep my kids in a good grammar school maybe it’s time I did something instead
maybe it’s time I did something instead
maybe it’s time I did something instead of complaining about politicians so I
of complaining about politicians so I
of complaining about politicians so I did didn’t I
did didn’t I
did didn’t I did my ladies and gentlemen I did
did my ladies and gentlemen I did
did my ladies and gentlemen I did something
but as you’re starting to see my story
but as you’re starting to see my story doesn’t always end well I tried to be
doesn’t always end well I tried to be
doesn’t always end well I tried to be the bridge between two men but that’s a
the bridge between two men but that’s a
the bridge between two men but that’s a whole other TED talk an IEEE 21 fresh
whole other TED talk an IEEE 21 fresh
whole other TED talk an IEEE 21 fresh politics we got the kids involved we
politics we got the kids involved we
politics we got the kids involved we have a social media strategy and I
have a social media strategy and I
have a social media strategy and I worked my socks off I worked harder than
worked my socks off I worked harder than
worked my socks off I worked harder than anybody and I was running my own little
anybody and I was running my own little
anybody and I was running my own little company sponsored by a PLC there were
company sponsored by a PLC there were
company sponsored by a PLC there were four of us in a little office and the
four of us in a little office and the
four of us in a little office and the Scottish problem building by sitting all
Scottish problem building by sitting all
Scottish problem building by sitting all they’d left their jobs to come and work
they’d left their jobs to come and work
they’d left their jobs to come and work for me
for me
for me they knew me I had a responsibility I
they knew me I had a responsibility I
they knew me I had a responsibility I was gonna build something big but I was
was gonna build something big but I was
was gonna build something big but I was gonna work every night at building this
gonna work every night at building this
gonna work every night at building this party as well a journalist called me and
party as well a journalist called me and
party as well a journalist called me and he said I want to hear your story
he said I want to hear your story
he said I want to hear your story so of course just like all this I talked
so of course just like all this I talked
so of course just like all this I talked about and did you know I won this award
about and did you know I won this award
about and did you know I won this award and did you know I built this and did
and did you know I built this and did
and did you know I built this and did you know I’m back because I love this
you know I’m back because I love this
you know I’m back because I love this place and this is the article II printed
place and this is the article II printed
place and this is the article II printed my lovely English husband said darling
my lovely English husband said darling
my lovely English husband said darling what’s worse being a West Belfast car
what’s worse being a West Belfast car
what’s worse being a West Belfast car but the unionist chief title or being
but the unionist chief title or being
but the unionist chief title or being someone in business called an IRA man’s
someone in business called an IRA man’s
someone in business called an IRA man’s daughter
daughter
daughter what is worse and I said I don’t know
what is worse and I said I don’t know
what is worse and I said I don’t know what’s worse but we’re leaving I’m
what’s worse but we’re leaving I’m
what’s worse but we’re leaving I’m already here
already here
already here does anybody here know what time you can
does anybody here know what time you can
does anybody here know what time you can get a newspaper in Northern Ireland
get a newspaper in Northern Ireland
get a newspaper in Northern Ireland because the twelve o’clock in Midnight
because the twelve o’clock in Midnight
because the twelve o’clock in Midnight in November and 2013 the article come up
in November and 2013 the article come up
in November and 2013 the article come up on the web and it says continued on page
on the web and it says continued on page
on the web and it says continued on page four and five
what and on page 45 they worked a time
what and on page 45 they worked a time the future of Northern Ireland because
the future of Northern Ireland because
the future of Northern Ireland because it’s people like me that can overcome
it’s people like me that can overcome
it’s people like me that can overcome their bridges that need to be encouraged
their bridges that need to be encouraged
their bridges that need to be encouraged but this is what they put on the front
but this is what they put on the front
but this is what they put on the front page I was done or so I thought
page I was done or so I thought
page I was done or so I thought something changed that day in me and I
something changed that day in me and I
something changed that day in me and I hope to god it happens to you if it
hope to god it happens to you if it
hope to god it happens to you if it hasn’t already I decided that I would
hasn’t already I decided that I would
hasn’t already I decided that I would stay and I would fear sit and I would
stay and I would fear sit and I would
stay and I would fear sit and I would fight it and I would prove to anyone who
fight it and I would prove to anyone who
fight it and I would prove to anyone who wanted to knock me
wanted to knock me
wanted to knock me that they weren’t going to and this is
that they weren’t going to and this is
that they weren’t going to and this is what I would teach my children not to be
what I would teach my children not to be
what I would teach my children not to be chained to anything we’re all chained to
chained to anything we’re all chained to
chained to anything we’re all chained to something but each link that we build is
something but each link that we build is
something but each link that we build is our bridge to who we are whether you’re
our bridge to who we are whether you’re
our bridge to who we are whether you’re in poverty in Northern Ireland and two
in poverty in Northern Ireland and two
in poverty in Northern Ireland and two hundred thousand people right now today
hundred thousand people right now today
hundred thousand people right now today or ill are sick have mental health
or ill are sick have mental health
or ill are sick have mental health issues children are growing up is that
issues children are growing up is that
issues children are growing up is that there is stigma everywhere in this place
there is stigma everywhere in this place
there is stigma everywhere in this place you can feel it you can smell it you
you can feel it you can smell it you
you can feel it you can smell it you walk into the schools there in the areas
walk into the schools there in the areas
walk into the schools there in the areas that don’t have a lot
that don’t have a lot
that don’t have a lot those kids are stigmatized mousses kids
those kids are stigmatized mousses kids
those kids are stigmatized mousses kids don’t stand a chance
don’t stand a chance
don’t stand a chance Deirdre Heenan will tell you but it is
Deirdre Heenan will tell you but it is
Deirdre Heenan will tell you but it is free we can tell in Northern Ireland
free we can tell in Northern Ireland
free we can tell in Northern Ireland who’s not gonna make it at age three
who’s not gonna make it at age three
who’s not gonna make it at age three because of poverty we’re all chance or
because of poverty we’re all chance or
because of poverty we’re all chance or something and we all have a
something and we all have a
something and we all have a responsibility that when we get
responsibility that when we get
responsibility that when we get somewhere that we help somebody along
somewhere that we help somebody along
somewhere that we help somebody along helped them build their chin have them
helped them build their chin have them
helped them build their chin have them step out of their chair it’s been great
step out of their chair it’s been great
step out of their chair it’s been great it’s been great
it’s been great
it’s been great wow I’m glad I stayed I built three
wow I’m glad I stayed I built three
wow I’m glad I stayed I built three multi-million pound companies I’ve heard
multi-million pound companies I’ve heard
multi-million pound companies I’ve heard five thousand people like to work every
five thousand people like to work every
five thousand people like to work every day across this island
day across this island
day across this island me and my team not just me of course I’m
me and my team not just me of course I’m
me and my team not just me of course I’m just lucky I’m surrounded by such talent
just lucky I’m surrounded by such talent
just lucky I’m surrounded by such talent and more than that more than any of that
and more than that more than any of that
and more than that more than any of that I now run the visitor centers across
I now run the visitor centers across
I now run the visitor centers across these prisons I do the child of a
these prisons I do the child of a
these prisons I do the child of a prisoner these are the toys but I wanted
prisoner these are the toys but I wanted
prisoner these are the toys but I wanted to give in the prisons because it’s way
to give in the prisons because it’s way
to give in the prisons because it’s way too rubbish but the children aren’t
too rubbish but the children aren’t
too rubbish but the children aren’t sitting on the chairs i sat on everyone
sitting on the chairs i sat on everyone
sitting on the chairs i sat on everyone has a chain everyone is a choice
has a chain everyone is a choice
has a chain everyone is a choice everyone is a responsibility looking
everyone is a responsibility looking
everyone is a responsibility looking around the world today at the levels
around the world today at the levels
around the world today at the levels that are on people at the judgements we
that are on people at the judgements we
that are on people at the judgements we make whether it’s Isis whatever it is we
make whether it’s Isis whatever it is we
make whether it’s Isis whatever it is we judge everybody those people afforded
judge everybody those people afforded
judge everybody those people afforded for Trump or judging them all judging
for Trump or judging them all judging
for Trump or judging them all judging people enough is enough to send them the
people enough is enough to send them the
people enough is enough to send them the wrong way
wrong way
wrong way so Who am I what label do I give myself
so Who am I what label do I give myself
so Who am I what label do I give myself I’m a mother first and foremost I’m a
I’m a mother first and foremost I’m a
I’m a mother first and foremost I’m a wife I’m a businesswoman I’m an
wife I’m a businesswoman I’m an
wife I’m a businesswoman I’m an entrepreneur but ladies and gentlemen
entrepreneur but ladies and gentlemen
entrepreneur but ladies and gentlemen I’m also a prisoner’s daughter and I’m
I’m also a prisoner’s daughter and I’m
I’m also a prisoner’s daughter and I’m not ashamed thank you
”
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