An Grianan conference to look at women’s vote 100 years on

A major conference in Drogheda this Saturday May 5th will explore the roles of women in the context of History, Politics and Industry in modern Ireland, and ask whether 100 years since women in Ireland received the vote, have they ‘quailfied’?

Councillor Emma Coffey of Fianna Fáil is organising the all-day event in An Grianan, Termonfeckin, to celebrate the centenary anniversary of “The Parliament Qualification Of Women Act 1918”, as she says there has been many a discussion in a living room or meeting as to what steps or progress have women in Ireland made.

“As we mark the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage and the part it played in developing Ireland as a nation, we should remember that equal rights and equal opportunity are not marginal issues but should be at the core or our social and economic development,” she says.

“We are only too aware of situations where women are increasingly found in insecure, lower-paid employment which denies them essential opportunities. Equally, figures on pay and promotions across all the enterprises continue to show an undervaluing of the contribution of women.”

The conference through a series of lectures and Q+A sessions, will evaluate if the women in Ireland in the last 100 years achieved equality of representation in areas such as politics, boards of management and public/ voluntary committees. Speakers include Professor Mary Daly Historian, Marian Harkin MEP, Emma Pengelly M.P, Orlaith Carmody, and is hosted by Alison Comyn.

Tickets for delagates are €110 including lunch, however local people are invited as audience members for the cost of their lunch. For more information contact the curse coordinator on 089 4214394, Cllr. Emma Coffey on 0871940837 or emma.coffey@ louthcoco.ie.