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Century: Women and the Vote

How Irish women won the vote

Mary Robinson

The long road to equality

Their struggle is our struggle: Women’s empowerment will progress only through their involvement in political processes and in shaping constitutions that guarantee the equal rights of all citizens.

Women's work

Women often wielded authority at home 100 years ago, but as public figures in professions such as teaching and nursing they were becoming much more common.

How the other half lived - life for poor women in Dublin in 1911

How the other half lived - life for poor women in Dublin in 1911

In Dublin city in 1911, 26,000 families lived in tenements, 20,000 of them in single rooms

The Big Picture

A history of her story

A history of her story

The big picture: The Irish women’s movement was created by unionists and nationalists, Home Rulers and republicans, liberals and socialists, Protestants, Catholics and women of no religion. They deserve a place in the history books.

Read All About It

Read all about it: writing wrongs

Read all about it: writing wrongs

Read all about it: Research on Irish feminism often concentrates on the pursuit of votes, but there were other issues and many debates within the movement which can be better understood by reading its ‘Irish Citizen’ newspaper.

Features

Suffragette being force fed in prison.

Century Women and the Vote
William Murphy
October 17, 2012, 01:00

Prison hunger strikes: Some Irish suffragists moved to militancy a little after their English counterparts, but when they d, the stones flew.

The executive of the Irish Women's Franchise League.

Suffrage and socialism: links with Labour

Century Women and the Vote
Therese Moriarty
October 17, 2012, 01:00

Suffrage and socialism : Suffrage and trade union aims didn’t always tally – some trade unionists supported higher wages for men, for example – but they found common cause fighting against injustice and for equality

Passion on both sides

Century Women and the Vote
October 17, 2012, 01:00

“Women, in whatever country ye breathe – wherever ye breathe, degraded, awake! Awake to the contemplation of the happiness that…

Fr Eugene Sheehy with Hanna and Francis Sheehy Skeffington in August 1912.

A new battlefield

Century Women and the Vote
Rosemary Cullen Owens
October 17, 2012, 01:00

Women and war: The issue of pacifism split the Irish feminist movement during a crucial period in its history

When women won the vote

Century Women and the Vote
Leeann Lane
October 17, 2012, 01:00

From New Zealand to Saudi Arabia: The representation of People Act, 1918, that granted votes to certain Irish and English women…

UK: links and tensions

Separate but equal

Separate but equal

UK links and tensions: Although influenced by what was going in Britain, suffragists in Ireland went their own way

The fight for a free state

A role in Home Rule

A role in Home Rule

The fight for a free state: In 1914, as the Home Rule crisis deepened, northern militancy escalated in protest against Edward Carson’s statement that women would not be given the vote in a secessionist Ulster.

Fr Eugene Sheehy with Hanna and Francis Sheehy Skeffington in August 1912.

A new battlefield

Century Women and the Vote
Rosemary Cullen Owens
October 17, 2012, 01:00

Women and war: The issue of pacifism split the Irish feminist movement during a crucial period in its history

The wedding of Kevin O'Higgins to Bridget Mary Cole in 1921, with Eamon de Valera in attendance.

Denial of citizenship

Century Women and the Vote
Maryann Gialanella Valiulis
October 17, 2012, 01:00

Anti-women legislation: The Irish Free State said it would ensure equality for women, but it turned out to be a false promise.

Thomas and Anna Haslam

Standing up for women in politics

Century Women and the Vote
Carmel Quinlan
October 17, 2012, 01:00

Anna Haslam, with help from the writings of her husband, Thomas, was a pioneer in persuading women of all political hues to stand for election .

Lord Charles Beresford, Frederick Smith and Edward Carson head a protest rally against Home Rule at City Hall, Belfast, for the signing of the Covenant on Ulster Day, September 28th, 1912.

Divisions run deep

Century Women and the Vote
Diane Urquhart
October 17, 2012, 01:00

Northern Ireland : Ethnicity and class were just some of the pressures facing Ulster’s suffrage movement.

Mrs Humphry Ward from 'The Critic: An Illustrated Monthly Review of Literature, Art and Life'

Opponents of the cause

Heritage
Leeann Lane
October 17, 2012, 01:00

Anti-suffrage movement: Educated women were among those arguing that female suffrage would damage society.

Members of the Irish Womens' Liberation Movement on thier return from Belfast to buy contraceptives on May 22nd 1971

Century Women and the Vote
Susan McKay
October 17, 2012, 01:00

More to play for:Many women are unwilling to call themselves feminists but would be appalled to give up the rights won by their predecessors.

The Frontline

Helena Molony

Helena Molony (1883-1967)

News
Senia Paseta
October 17, 2012, 01:00

Born into a middle-class Dublin family, Helena Molony became one of Ireland’s most committed trade union, republican and feminist…

Jennie Wyse Power

Jennie Wyse Power (1858-1941)

News
Maryann Gialanella Valiulis
October 17, 2012, 01:00

Jennie Wyse Power, nee O’Toole, was a feminist and a nationalist involved in the major events in Irish history throughout her life.

Hanna Sheehy Skeffington

Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946)

News
Margaret Ward
October 17, 2012, 01:00

Born Johanna Sheehy, daughter of an Irish Party MP, she was asked while a university student to sign a petition for women’s suffrage…

Kathleen Lynn

Kathleen Lynn (1874-1955)

News
Margaret O hOgartaigh
October 17, 2012, 01:00

Kathleen Lynn’s main claim to fame is her establishment of St Ultan’s Hospital for Infants with her great friend Madeleine ffrench…

Cissie Cahalan

Cissie Cahalan (1876-1948)

News
Therese Moriarty
October 17, 2012, 01:00

Cissie Cahalan, trade unionist, feminist, and schoolteacher’s daughter, was born in Tipperary or Cork

Margaret McCoubrey (1880-1955)

News
Diane Urquhart
October 17, 2012, 01:00

Scottish-born Margaret McCoubrey’s interests spanned socialism and feminism

Margaret Cousins, Meg Connery, Barabara Hoskins, Mabel Purser

Margaret Cousins (1878-1954)

News
Therese Moriarty
October 17, 2012, 01:00

Margaret (Gretta) Cousins, theosophist and feminist, was born Margaret Gillespie, daughter of a law clerk, in Boyle, Co Roscommon…

Mary Hayden

Mary Hayden (1862-1942)

News
Joyce Padbury
October 17, 2012, 01:00

“A flagrant and crying injustice, which should not be tolerated another instant,” was how Mary Hayden, addressing the Irish Women…

Louie Bennett

Louie Bennett (1870-1956)

News
Rosemary Cullen Owens
October 17, 2012, 01:00

Born into a wealthy Dublin Protestant family, Louie Bennett at the age of 41 embarked on a public life that included activity for female suffrage, women workers and pacifism.

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