Nell McCafferty has been remembered as someone who “changed the world” at her funeral in County Derry.

The funeral for the trailblazing writer and feminist took place at St Columba’s Church this afternoon.

Sinn Féin First Minister Michelle O’Neill was among those in attendance, along with representatives of President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Simon Harris. 

Former MLA Eamon McCann told the congregation that McCafferty was someone who “changed the world”.  

The funeral also heard that the world was a “different and better place” because McCafferty had been in it. 

During the prayers of the faithful, a prayer was said for “those who care for sick and dying, especially those who cared for Nell in Beech Hill Nursing Home”. 

The family of Nell McCafferty follow the hearse carrying her coffin as she receives a guard of honour. Image: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

Following the funeral service, a private cremation took place in Lakelands Crematorium in County Cavan.

McCafferty died in a nursing home at the age of 80 on Wednesday. 

The Derry woman was a leader of the Irish feminist movement in the late 1960s and was a founding member of the Irish Women’s Liberation Movement (IWLM) in 1970. 

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Speaking after her death, fellow IWLM founder Mary Kenny told Newstalk Breakfast McCafferty was a speaker “at the level of James Connolly”.

“She absolutely was an iconic figure and a very important leader of the Irish feminist movement in the 1970s,” she said. 

“She was also a brilliant writer; she was a wonderful journalist and great fun. That was the thing about Nell, she had a marvellous sense of humour. 

“So even people that were critical of her, perhaps because she was so upfront, were completely disarmed by her charm and how funny she could be in that very special Derry way.” 

Nell McCafferty in Easons Dublin during her book signing. 6/11/2004 Photo Leon Farrell/RollingNews.ie

In 1971 McCafferty travelled to Belfast with other members of the IWLM to protest the ban on the importation and sale of contraceptives into the Republic. 

The much-publicised campaign became known as the ‘Contraceptive Train’ and is viewed as a landmark moment in Ireland’s feminist movement. 

Feminist and LGBT activist Ailbhe Smyth told The Hard Shoulder that she had always been “very fond” of McCafferty.

“One of her first books was In The Eyes Of The Law where she just sat in the District Court day after day after day and told us what was going on there,” Ms Smyth said. 

“It revealed and exposed the lives of the poor people who were up in the courts and the nature of their lives and tore the judiciary to shreds. 

“She was fearless in that regard - she didn’t care. 

“She would go out and tell the truth directly - drawing us in with her skill and her talent.” 

McCafferty was also known for her books Nell, Goodnight, Sisters and A Woman to Blame.

Additional reporting by Hannah Patterson