Irish women's role in mythology, folklore, history, culture and education is the theme of a conference hosted by the National Museum of Ireland and Meitheal Mhaigheo in Co Mayo today .
Turas na mBan (Women's Journey) is "not about women in politics, or women's role in society," conference organiser Justin Sammon, chief executive officer of Meitheal Mhaigheo, says. "The purpose is not to preach or praise," he says, but to look at "ordinary women doing extraordinary things."
The seeds of the conference were sown during folklore work being undertaken by Meitheal Mhaigheo, one of the State-funded partnership companies working with community development. The depiction of women in romantic music will be examined by Tom Munnelly, archivist and collector with the Department of Irish Folklore at University College Dublin.
"Sinful" women and unbaptised children in Irish folklore will be addressed by Dr Anne O'Connor, folklorist and special adviser to RTÉ, while Sr Hilary Lyons, originally from Louisburgh, Co Mayo, will talk about her work as doctor and nun over 40 years in the wartorn west African state of Sierra Leone.
The portrayal of women in Irish traditional lore will be discussed by Dr Dáithí Ó hOgáin, associated professor of Irish folklore at University College Dublin, while David Fanagan of Fanagans Funeral Directors will look at women's approach to death and funerals.
"New country, new culture" is the title of a workshop facilitated by Geraldine Mitchell and Therese Ruane of Mayo Intercultural Action, while changing technologies and ways will be debated by Caitriona Hastings of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, and Anne O'Dowd and Rosa Meehan of the National Museum of Ireland.
Minister for Agriculture and Food Mary Coughlan will attend Turas na mBan, which will be chaired by journalist Susan McKay today and tomorrow at the Knockranny House Hotel, Westport, Co Mayo.
• Further details from Meitheal Mhaigheo, Foxford, Co Mayo, at (094) 9256745.