Top Issue 1-2024

17 August 2006 Edition

Resize: A A A Print

Women's voices must be heard

Conference - Successful women's event in South Armagh

BY
COLETTE O'REILLY

A conference with a difference in Mullaghbawn, South Armagh was organised as part of the 25th anniversary commemorations of the 1981 Hunger Strike. The conference at the Tí Chulainn centre on Saturday 29 July was organised by republican women from Newry and Armagh and involved a number of events exploring issues around women's participation in the republican struggle.

Following a showing of the film Women in the Irish Struggle, the conference heard the personal experiences of republican women ex-prisoners Eileen Morgan (Hillen), Chrissie McAuley and Jennifer McCann. Each spoke about the periods they had spent in Armagh, Mountjoy and Maghaberry prisons.

Pointing out that republican ideals are about the concepts of equality and justice, Jennifer McCann stated: "We are not living in a just and equal society."

A number of workshops were held on women's involvement within the struggle and the need to recruit more women into Sinn Féin was highlighted.

After lunch, more events followed, with a DVD showing local people from Newry, South Armagh and Armagh who talked of their experiences and memories from the 1950s up to the present and their hopes for the future.

Kathleen Funchion, Sinn Féin representative for Carlow/Kilkenny, and Eibhlín Glenholmes of Sinn Féin's Party Development Department both addressed the conference. Funchion said that women's views and opinions must be heard within Sinn Féin and this could only happen with an increase in the number of women throughout party structures.

Eibhlín Glenholmes, a returned OTR gave an account of the role that women have played throughout the decades of struggle, and said that their contribution will never be allowed to get air-brushed from history. Women, she said, need to contribute to decisions on the best health and education systems to serve their needs and the needs of our children. Women need to contribute to all Sinn Féin policy decisions.

The women of Caledon in the 1960s began the current campaign for civil rights, for justice, for better homes, jobs, schools and on many more issues. More women are needed to join the struggle and achieve a just and equal Ireland.

The highlight of the day was the drama Just a Prisoner's Wife, a brilliant portrayal of what life was like for the women whose husbands and partners were political prisoners in Long Kesh.

The successful and inspirational conference concluded with Annie Cahill performing the song Tom Williams.


An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland