SEVENTY-NINE-year-old peace activist Margaretta D’Arcy was released from Mountjoy Prison yesterday.

And she went straight onto the Saturday Night Show with Brendan O’Connor to tell her story. Wearing the orange prison jumpsuit she uses for protests.

D’Arcy discussed her treatment for cancer and other health issues. She said that she has a “wobbly head” because of injuries received at past protests.

She also explained the circumstances behind her arrest for protesting at Shannon airport, over rendition flights and military use of the facility.

D’Arcy told TheJournal.ie yesterday that she would happily go back to prison, saying:

If Enda Kenny wants to spend thousands of euro putting me in prison, he can go ahead.

And last night she invited Brendan O’Connor for a little romantic outing on the runway at Shannon.

The activist also gave O’Connor a teddy bear she had knitted during her time in prison, telling him to give it to one of his daughters.

She spoke highly of the other female inmates at the Dóchas Centre in Mountjoy, saying:

However, she said they were the victims of gender discrimination in the prison system, with many more facilities and open-prison arrangements available for male prisoners.

You can watch the full interview on the RTÉ Player here.

More: “If that’s the way the cookie crumbles”: Margaretta D’Arcy says she’ll go back to prison if she has to>