Meet this year’s 8 and good
Honouring females in media, arts & politics
TODAY is International Women’s Day so we’re taking a closer look at eight truly inspirational Irish women who have changed the course of history.
Through their political, social, creative and sporting achievements these powerhouses have touched lives and given hope to others across the country and beyond.
The list of kick-ass female role models are too many to mention but here’s our pick of those who’ve had a super influence on our lives…
JESSIE BUCKLEY
The flame-haired actress from Kerry first emerged on the BBC talent show I’d Do Anything aged 19 competing for the role of Nancy in Oliver! That same year she led the cast in the West End revival of Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music.
After a series of theatre roles she took a brave step and suspended her professional career to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 2013.
Jessie, 30, has since been nominated for a BAFTA and an Oscar, starring in the criticallyacclaimed Wild Rose and Chernobyl. Her performance of Glasgow (No Place Like Home) at this year’s Oscars brought the house down.
In her own words: “It’s always good to shake it up and do something different.”
KATIE TAYLOR
The Bray native has been hailed as the best sports person to ever come out of the country. Not only did she win a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics, she has gone on to claim glory in her 15 professional bouts.
And unlike some sports stars who have gone off the rails, Katie, 33, is a great role model to youngsters, and in particular young girls.
In 2019, she became one of only seven boxers in history to hold all four major world titles in boxing – WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO.
And she has never swayed from her religious beliefs which she credits for her success.
In her own words: “I want to tell girls, it’s not about make-up and how you look that’s important; you are so much more than how you look.”
KATE GRANT
Kate Grant decided she wanted to be a model after seeing her mother Deirdre walking the catwalk in their home town of Cookstown, Co Tyrone. Now the 21-year-old, who has Down Syndrome, is the face of Benefit cosmetics.
Her first gig as a model was for Belfast Fashion Week but in the two years since she’s been crowned Teen Ultimate Beauty of the World and was recognised for her achievements in the Queen’s Honours List.
She has stolen hearts with every television appearance, as her enthusiasm, warmth and glowing confidence literally shine from her. Kate’s next goal is to be on the cover of Vogue like her role models Gigi and Bella Hadid.
In her own words: “I want to be everywhere, all over the world, because I am brilliant.”
SINEAD O’CONNOR
Her arrangement of Prince’s Nothing Compares 2 U catapulted her to global fame but the road wasn’t all smooth for the outspoken Dubliner.
In 1992, Sinead ripped up a photograph of Pope John Paul II on live TV and spoke openly about her childhood abuse.
In 2017, she changed her name to Magda Davitt before converting to Islam in 2018, taking the name Shuhada Sadaqat.
Despite her ups and downs, Sinead, 53, has always worn her heart on her sleeve – displaying bravery and honesty in talking about her mental health struggles and therapy before she made her performing comeback last year.
In her own words: “I’ll be doing OK until someone else throws some sh*t at me. Life is all about the healing.”
MAURA HIGGINS
This pocket rocket from Ballymahon in Co Longford first turned heads as the “gobby” Irish contestant on Love Island 2019.
And while she may not have won the reality show, she’s been the big winner signing a six-figure deal with Ann Summers.
The 29-year-old famed for her “f***y flutters” has been on a rollercoaster ride ever since, bagging a presenting job on This Morning and taking to the rink for ITV’S Dancing On Ice, before her recent split with Curtis Prichard.
Despite the heady success Maura remains grounded and has proven that she’s all about the sisterhood. She put paid to rumours of cosmetic surgery recently by bravely going public without a scrap of make-up.
In her own words: “Are you actually jokin?!”
LAURA BRENNAN
Laura Brennan became the HSE’S not-so-secret weapon in promoting the HPV vaccine. The 25-year-old had just received a diagnosis of terminal cervical cancer in 2017 but still thought of others when she volunteered to help. Her death in March 2019 at the age of 26 left the nation reeling – but still the brave Ennis woman continued to touch our hearts from beyond the grave. Laura had agreed to do an RTE documentary and asked that an image of her in her coffin form part of the hard-hitting broadcast. She helped boost the numbers of young women getting the vaccine here from 51 per cent to 70 per cent. In her own words: “You have to keep fighting. You can’t give up.”
MARY LOU MCDONALD
Where to start with the Sinn Fein leader who led her party to unprecedented success in last month’s General Election?
Some say she’s a bit like Marmite, but like her or loath her you have to hand it to her: she’s some woman for one woman.
The straight-talking Dubliner abandoned Fianna Fail after less than a year in 1998 and has been blazing a trail to the top ever since.
The mother of two doesn’t suffer fools; yet she displays compassion and empathy.
A champion of women’s rights and social justice, opinion polls now put her satisfaction rating at 53 per cent– up 13 points and 22 clear of her nearest rival.
In her own words: “Is it time for a female Taoiseach? Of course it is, Jesus, come on.”
VICKY PHELAN
Campaigner Vicky Phelan has spoken out about the changes needed in the Irish health system after her cervical cancer misdiagnosis.
The terminally-ill mother of two from Limerick refused to sign a gagging order as part of her court settlement – because she wanted to speak up for other women.
Her fight saw the drug Pembrolizumab (Pembro) given the go-ahead by the Government in December 2018. She went on to pen her autobiography which won Book of the Year and the 44-year-old now appears to have her sights set on running for the Seanad.
In her own words: “We should not be waiting for the Government to make change happen. We have the power within us to make change happen, whatever that may be.”