281122 Marie Ferris and Martin. A week or so ago on November 18 in Killarney 820 republicans broke bread together in honour of Martin and Marie Ferris. It was a great night. Marie Ferris is one of my heroes. A warrior woman. An activist. A mammy. A mamó. And the wife of Martin Ferris. Martin is one of my heros as well. H e is as tough as old boots. As strong as teak. A Kerry Gael from head to toe. But he has the heart of an angel. That ’ s probably why Marie has put up with him all this time. They were married in 1978. Marie had returned from Australia. Her story is an amazing one. I am particularly taken by her mother Rita. Better known as ‘Gargy’, from Mayo,she was orphaned before she was five and ended up with the Sisters of Mercy in Westport. She was released aged sixteeen. She became pregn a nt and a singlemother when she was twenty one. Her son Seán was seized from her when she asked for help from his father with rearing the child. Her son, like Gargy his mother