Rita O’Hare Obituary, Cause Of Death – It is with great regret that we must inform you that Rita O’Hare has passed away. Our deepest sympathies go out to Brendan and the rest of the family during this difficult time. Ireland has suffered the loss of a true patriot. Sinn Féin has suffered the loss of a colleague who was both skilled and much valued. One of our most treasured companions has passed away. Over the course of several decades, Rita O’Hare has established herself as a pivotal role in the Irish peace process and a prominent Republican activist. Rita worked with a great deal of drive, energy, and ability for the unity of Ireland, for a more just society, and for the cause of peace and reconciliation. She was an integral part of the leadership of Sinn Féin during crucial stages of the party’s development and during era-defining stages of the Peace Process. Rita was not only an extremely intelligent and strategic political thinker, but she was also an articulate communicator and skilled publicist. She was at the forefront of pushing the boundaries, which allowed Sinn Féin to develop into the contemporary, successful, and widely popular political party that it is today. A significant part of Rita’s political legacy will be the vital role she played in these events.
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Rita was born and reared in Belfast at a time when the north of Ireland was an apartheid state. This state was characterized by discrimination based on religious affiliation as well as the marginalization and mistreatment of the nationalist community. Rita was raised during this time. Her mother Maureen was from the nationalist neighborhood of Ballymacarett (Short Strand) in East Belfast, and her father Billy was a socialist and internationalist. Her father Billy was born a Protestant in East Belfast to an English father and a Welsh mother. Her mother Maureen was from the area of East Belfast known as Ballymacarett (Short Strand).
