Farming women are doing it for themselves

‘SISTERS Are Doin’ It for Themselves’ — the 1985 pop classic by the Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin — is quickly becoming the theme tune for the women in farming movement that is sweeping the nation.

First came the South East Women in Farming Ireland (SEWFI) group, then West Women in Farming Ireland (WWFI) announced their arrival in Connacht, and tonight Meitheal na mBan — Munster Rural Women will officially launch at The Woodlands Hotel, Adare, Co Limerick.

Meitheal is the Irish word for a group of people getting together with a common purpose to achieve a goal. All three support groups have already garnered the backing of hundreds of agricultural women in their own respective regions.

Meitheal na mBan organiser Catherine Guest has been involved in some traditional women in agriculture groups in Kerry and Tipperary over the years, and emphasises the difference it can make to the lives of women.

“It is fantastic in terms of empowerment and networking. It gives support and friendships that you cannot put a value on.”

She said joining can help with personal development, confidence and ensures women have a greater appreciation for their role on the farm.

“We’re all at the same game, we’ve the same challenges, the same aims and our mission is the same. We want to bring that all together as there is power in numbers,” said the full-time beef and suckler farmer.

She said women are more willing to come forward due to the success of SEWFI in Carlow and momentum gathering around WWFI which will host its inaugural meeting in the Clayton Hotel, Galway, on April 1.

“Women are realising it’s now or never, we have to step up to the mark. I think we have been very slow to do that in the past,” said Ms Guest.

“It’s not because men left us behind, it’s because we didn’t do it for ourselves.”

She stresses the new group is non-political, non-denominational, and not anti-men.

“It’s about finding our own place, sometimes we can be our own worst enemy and leave it to the men, but we realise now that we need to set targets and do it for ourselves, just like the song.”

Meitheal na mBan — Munster Rural Women is not specific to women in farming.

“This is a group for all rural women, it’s not necessarily farm women, it’s about women who may have farmed in the past or those who have never farmed, it’s for all the women who are part of our communities,” she said.

Speakers for tonight’s launch, starting at 7pm, include Farming Independent columnist Ann Fitzgerald, Marion Harnett of Abbeyfeale Farmers’ Market and Joan Collins, inspirational founder of Women in Agriculture in Kerry.