Spiegeltent conference on female equality
THE annual Community Conference organised by Wexford Local Development which is taking place in the unusual setting of the Spiegeltent on Saturday, October 13, will address the theme of Equality for Women in Ireland, asking the question: ‘Are We There Yet’.
The conference will open in the Spiegeltent at 9am for a morning of talks and discussions with speakers including Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission Emily Logan; the author, lecturer and researcher, Jacinta Kitt and Senator Lynn Ruane who has recently published her first book ‘People Like Me’.
The conference will transfer to Wexford Arts Centre for a networking lunch in the afternoon and will be attended by members of the cross-party group Women for Election along with community leaders from organisations throughout County Wexford.
Two members of Wexford Local Development’s Community Health team Polly Connors and Josie Cash will speak about their experiences as women from a minority ethnic community.
The retired CEO of Wexford Chamber Madeleine Quirke will act as Master of Ceremonies while the welcome address to delegates will be delivered by the chairman of Wexford Local Development Michael Wall.
Members of Wexford’s new community choir Rising Voices which promotes inclusivity and support through music for those affected by suicide, will give a performance during the event.
In deciding on the theme of this year’s conference, Wexford Local Development drew on the enlightening stories of strong Wexford women of the early 20th century who contributed to the foundation of the state including Una Brennan, Máire Moran and the Ryan sisters of Tomcoole.
‘Conscious of this rich legacy of activism among Wexford women, we wanted to examine the local context, 100 years after women were given the right to vote’, said Community Development Co-Ordinator Mary Louise O Brien.
‘While women actively participate in a wide range of organisations at a community level, and within families, research shows that when women and girls prosper, entire communities in Ireland succeed’, she said.
‘WLD’s core purpose is to address inequalities and with a population of 76,000 women in the county, the company seeks to encourage the empowerment of women to take leadership roles in local communities.’
‘On a daily basis the impact of inequality is encountered by front-line staff and this event aims to highlight and address some of the barriers that still very much exist’.
‘We hope that conference participants, male and female, can suggest ways in which Wexford Local Development can support actions through the various programmes it operates, in particular the Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP) of which women are a named target group and equality is a horizontal theme running across all actions.’
There is no charge to attend the event and booking is through Eventbrite or through the Community Development Team in any of the four Wexford Local Development offices.
The Census of 1916 shows that 50.7% (76,000) of the population in County Wexford is female. Since the foundation of the State, in 32 General Elections over alost 100 years, Wexford has elected one female TD - Avril Doyle (19821989, 1992-1997). Four of the 34 seats on Wexford County Council are held by women (12%).