Christine Buckley

{{short description|Irish activist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Christine Buckley | image = Christine_Buckley.jpg | alt =  | caption = Buckley in 2009 | birth_name =  | birth_date = {{Birth date|1946|10|10|df=y}} | birth_place = London | death_date = {{Death date and age|2014|03|11|1946|10|10|df=y}} | death_place = Dublin | nationality =  | other_names = | occupation = | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = }} '''Christine Buckley''' (10 October 1946 – 11 March 2014)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Evers |first=Liz |title=Buckley, Christine |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/buckley-christine-a10166 |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Dictionary of Irish Biography}}</ref> was an Irish activist and campaigner, who served as the director of the Aislinn support and education group for survivors of Industrial Schools in Ireland.<ref name="it-christine-buckley-on-eve-of-ryan-report">Buckley, Christine. [http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2009/0519/1224246879530.html "A long journey in search of justice for victims of abuse"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018151738/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2009/0519/1224246879530.html |date=18 October 2012 }}, ''The Irish Times'', 19 May 2009; retrieved 4 November 2009</ref> She was raised in St. Vincent's Industrial School, Goldenbridge.<ref name="it-christine-buckley-on-eve-of-ryan-report"/>

== Life and death == The daughter of a Nigerian medical student and a married Irish woman from Dublin,<ref name="tcd-dear-daughter">[http://www.tcd.ie/irishfilm/showfilm.php?fid=36476 Dear Daughter], Irish Film and TV Research Online, Trinity College Dublin</ref> she was abandoned at three weeks of age and grew up in Goldenbridge industrial school.<ref name="tcd-dear-daughter"/> She went through primary and, unlike many industrial school children, secondary school, eventually qualifying as a nurse. In 1985 she contacted her mother, and in 1988 she contacted her father.<ref name="it-christine-buckley-on-eve-of-ryan-report"/>

She spoke of her childhood on ''The Gay Byrne Show'' in November 1992.<ref name="Ryan Report">{{cite web|title=Ryan Report|url=http://www.childabusecommission.ie/rpt/02-07.php|website=Child Abuse Commission|accessdate=9 July 2016}}</ref> During the interview she was asked about her childhood and she described her experience of St. Vincent's Industrial School, Goldenbridge. She worked with Louis Lentin on the documentary ''Dear Daughter'', which dealt with both her own experiences and those of other victims of sexual abuse at Goldenbridge.<ref name="tcd-dear-daughter"/>

In 2003, she called on Fianna Fáil Minister for Education Noel Dempsey to resign after he proposed that the Commission investigate only sample allegations of abuse instead of the 1800 complaints.<ref>[http://www.rte.ie/news/2003/0903/abuse.html "Dempsey defends record on Laffoy"], RTÉ News, 3 September 2003, retrieved 4 November 2009</ref> After the Commission report was published, she spoke of being filled with anger though she should have been filled with hope.<ref name="it-christine-buckley-victims-reaction">[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0521/1224247035788.html "'We can't get on with our lives. It's just not that easy. . .'"], ''The Irish Times'', 21 May 2009; retrieved 4 November 2009</ref> In June 2009, she took part in a wreath-laying ceremony and a march of solidarity with victims of abuse in industrial schools.<ref name="it-solidarity-march">[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0610/breaking2.htm "Thousands march in solidarity with abuse victims"], ''The Irish Times'', 10 June 2009; retrieved 4 November 2009</ref> Up to 10,000 people took part in the march.<ref name="it-solidarity-march"/> In June 2009 she criticised a letter to priests by Pope Benedict XVI on the grounds that it used vague language and that it may have concealed rather than acknowledged the wrongs done.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2009/05_06/2009_06_24_IrishPost_PopeIs.htm |title=Pope Is Slammed over Vague Abuse Response |date=24 June 2009 |work=The Irish Post |via= BishopAccountability.org |access-date=22 April 2026}}</ref>

She died on 11 March 2014, after a long battle with breast cancer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0311/601465-christine-buckley|title=Tributes following campaigner Christine Buckley's death|work=RTÉ|date=11 March 2014|accessdate=11 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/campaigner-christine-buckley-passes-away-after-a-long-illness-30082368.html|title=Campaigner Christine Buckley passes away after a long illness|date=11 March 2014|work=Irish Independent|accessdate=12 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/warrior-survivor-advocate-charmer-christine-buckley-was-a-hero-among-heroes-261631.html|title=Warrior, survivor, advocate, charmer — Christine Buckley was a hero among heroes|date=11 March 2014|work=Irish Examiner|accessdate=12 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/news-opinion/aine-hegarty-column-death-christine-3232201 |title=Bravest warrior is finally at rest |date=11 March 2014 |work=Irish Mirror |accessdate=12 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000440/http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/news-opinion/aine-hegarty-column-death-christine-3232201 |archivedate= 4 March 2016 }}</ref>

==Legacy and Christine Buckley Award== Christine Buckley was the recipient of the Irish 'Volunteer of the Year' award in 2009,<ref>{{Cite web|title=2009 Awards – Volunteer Ireland|url=https://www.volunteer.ie/events/vi-awards/previous-years/2009-awards/|access-date=2020-06-11|language=en-GB}}</ref> winning the European Volunteer of the Year looks at a variety award in Strasbourg later that year.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-12-05|title=Christine Buckley receives European award|url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/christine-buckley-receives-european-award-437083.html|access-date=2020-06-11|website=Breaking News}}</ref> Upon her death in 2014, Volunteer Ireland announced the renaming of their overall Volunteer of the Year award in honour of Christine Buckley.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About the Awards|url=https://www.volunteer.ie/about-the-awards/|publisher=Volunteer Ireland}}</ref> Awardees include:

* 2014 – Jim Kavanagh, Chernobyl Children International<ref>{{Cite web|title=2014 Awards|url=https://www.volunteer.ie/events/vi-awards/previous-years/2014-awards/|publisher=Volunteer Ireland|access-date=2020-06-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023231115/https://www.volunteer.ie/events/vi-awards/previous-years/2014-awards/|archive-date=23 October 2017}}</ref> * 2015 – Matt Cullen, Swords Tidy Towns<ref>{{Cite web|title=2015 Awards|url=https://www.volunteer.ie/events/vi-awards/previous-years/|publisher=Volunteer Ireland|access-date=2020-06-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823212738/https://www.volunteer.ie/events/vi-awards/previous-years/|archive-date=23 August 2017}}</ref> * 2016 – David McEvoy, Birr First Responders<ref>{{Cite web|title=2016 Awards|url=https://www.volunteer.ie/events/vi-awards/2016-awards/|publisher=Volunteer Ireland|access-date=2020-06-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826025323/https://www.volunteer.ie/events/vi-awards/2016-awards/|archive-date=26 August 2019}}</ref> * 2017 – Sister Patrica Wall (a.k.a. the "Flying Nun")<ref>{{Cite web|title=Volunteer Ireland Awards 2017 |url=https://www.volunteer.ie/events/vi-awards/2017-volunteer-ireland-award-winnes/|publisher=Volunteer Ireland|access-date=2020-06-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823003138/https://www.volunteer.ie/events/vi-awards/2017-volunteer-ireland-award-winnes/|archive-date=23 August 2019}}</ref> * 2018 – Mary Fitzgerald, Clare Haven Services for domestic abuse survivors, County Clare<ref>{{Cite web|title=Previous Winners|url=https://www.volunteer.ie/events/vi-awards/previous-years-2016/|publisher=Volunteer Ireland|access-date=2020-06-11|language=en-GB}}</ref> * 2019 – Owodunni 'Ola' Mustapha, asylum seeker, organiser of Residents Committee in Direct Provision Centre, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, MASI contributor and activist<ref>{{Cite web|title=Awards 2019 Shortlist|url=https://www.volunteer.ie/events/vi-awards/awards-2019-shortlist/|publisher=Volunteer Ireland|access-date=2020-06-11|language=en-GB|archive-date=2 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602134444/https://www.volunteer.ie/events/vi-awards/awards-2019-shortlist/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Honours== In December 2012, Trinity College, Dublin awarded her an honorary Doctor of Laws degree (LL.D) in recognition of her work for people who were subjected to institutional abuse. Presiding at the ceremony was former President of Ireland Mary Robinson in her capacity as Chancellor of the university.<ref>{{cite web|title=Honorary Degrees|url=http://www.tcd.ie/registrar/honorary-degrees|publisher=Trinity College Dublin|accessdate=24 December 2012}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Buckley, Christine}} Category:1946 births Category:2014 deaths Category:20th-century Irish people Category:21st-century Irish people Category:Health professionals from Dublin (city) Category:Irish people of Nigerian descent Category:Irish activists Category:Irish women activists Category:Sexual abuse victim advocates Category:Deaths from cancer in the Republic of Ireland Category:Deaths from breast cancer Category:Irish nurses Category:Black Irish people Category:People detained at industrial schools in the Republic of Ireland