Clodagh Finn: Nell McCafferty was a ‘wee outlaw’ who made Ireland a better place

It is heartening to see that Nell — she was so well-known that the country was on first-name terms with her — has prompted so many warm tributes over the last few days

Nell McCafferty at her home, in1984. Her involvement in the women’s movement is well-known, although I wonder if we appreciate enough how much she and others changed Ireland for the better. Picture: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

The late Nell McCafferty once suggested that all men should be given a set of golden balls; balls that would be pinned to their lapels and replaced by bigger and better ones if they were responsible in sexual relations.

The system would operate along the lines of a star on a school child’s forehead, she said. It was her way of using humour to convince. “I take my wild ideas very seriously.