Fógraí bháis: Bet Bailey

Coffin being carried by members of the Bailey family

By COUNCILLOR Brian Stanley

Republicans throughout the Midlands and the entire country were saddened at the recent death of Bet Bailey, Emo, County Laois. Bet died on the day after her 83rd birthday, having been in bad health for some time.
She was an outstanding member of the community and an Irish Patriot in the best sense of the word. Her contribution to republicanism stretched over several decades and was simply enormous. Bet was small in stature but had an iron will.
Many a morning she walked out into her little kitchen to find it full of people, which on some occasions were IRA Volunteers passing through the locality and on others it was the more unwelcome presence of  the Garda Special Branch raiding the house. Bet’s hospitality was legendary and literally hundreds of republicans from throughout the 32 Counties were made feel welcome and looked after by Bet and her late husband Ned.
She visited prisoners in Portlaoise Jail, including Ned and her son P J. She actively supported the Hunger Strikes in Portlaoise during the 70s and later the Hunger Strikes in Long Kesh. Bet took enormous risks on a number of occasions, the sort of action that would test the mettle of many ‘hard chaws’. Alongside Ned, she was in the middle of republican activity for most of her adult life. In later years and despite failing health she supported the building of Sinn Féin in Laois. She attended the General Election convention in Borris-in-Ossory in 2006 and encouraged those present to do their best for the movement. On that occasion she relished being in the company of old acquaintances such as Martin Ferris TD, who was the guest speaker.


oration
It was fitting that Sinn Féin Meath County Councillor Joe Reilly, who spent time in Bailey’s house during the early 1970’s and served time with Ned in Portlaoise Jail, gave the graveside oration. Joe recalled the time he spent in with Bet and her qualities. He said:
“When nationalists throughout the occupied Six Counties were under attack from state forces and loyalists they looked South for help which was denied by the Southern establishment. But help was given by people like the Baileys. No request was too big or too small, nothing was too dangerous and Bet and Ned gave their help willingly”.
Concluding, he told those young people present that if they “wanted a role model that they had need not look for one on television or in the media, as they had the perfect role model in Bet” and encouraged them to follow her example.
Bet’s funeral cortege was led by a piper and flanked by a Republican Guard of Honour. The high esteem in which this wonderful woman is held was evident by the large turnout of people from far and near who came to say a last farewell to Bet.
Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam.