Arcadia Ireland

International Women’s Day falls on the 8^th of March every year, meaning this week Ireland is showering its communities with local events to engage and celebrate women and their contributions. 50 years ago, women in Ireland were forced to the margins of society. Unable to divorce, unentitled to equal pay, unable to pursue a career since many fields forced women to resign when they got married, and lacking social supports for unmarried mothers or deserted and widowed wives meant a women without a man was left to poverty. Especially compared to other European countries, Irish women were ground down and by the 1970s they had enough.

The Irish Women’s Liberation Movement (IWLM) met at Gaj’s (pronounced like guy, owned by Margaret Gaj) restaurant to discuss ideas for calling attention to their demands. Many of these women, for instance June Levine, Mary Anderson and Mary Kenny, were journalists who knew how to draw attention to the women’s movement. In 1971 they published their manifesto: Chains or Change, outlining the plight of the Irish women and six main demands for legislation to ensure they can achieve equality. These six demands were:

• Equal Pay
• Equality before the law
• Equal education (Many female schools didn’t offer higher maths or sciences for their students, locking them out of accessing higher earning careers)
• Contraception for all
• Justice for deserted wives, widows, and unmarried mothers
• One family one house

The publication of this manifesto was followed by an infamous tv interview on The Late Late Show on March 6^th 1971 where Mary Kenny alleged that Irish politicians did not want to legislate to deconstruct the patriarchy since they benefitted from it (almost all Irish politicians at this time were men). The political debate that ensued after this interview went on to spark many to join the IWLM from all backgrounds. In May of 1971, 47 women got on what is now known as the “contraceptive train” to Belfast to buy condoms and bring them back into the republic.

50 years forward, Irish women have come so far from where they started, but there are still hurdles ahead of them. Many of the original demands of the Chains or Change manifesto have been met legally, but sometimes persist implicitly. The women who came before fought to make the future better for us, and many women continue to fight to make the future better for those that will come after us.

This week, women all over Ireland are discussing and exhibiting their work. In Dublin The Useless Project sold out their Women Rising event on March 8^th which raised money for Women’s Aid Ireland and TENI (Transgender Equality Network Ireland). In Limerick the Bel Table is hosting a photography exhibition until the 24^th of March titled, “Women from the Inside” exploring and celebrating the women of Limerick.

If you’re interested in learning more about brave Irish women, writer Marian Broderick has written two books on the subject, Wild Irish Women, and Bold, Brilliant & Bad: Irish Women from History. Additionally, you can click here and here for some articles discussing the IWLM manifesto. For now don’t forget to tag us in your adventures with #arcadiaireland to be featured on our Instagram page. Cheers!