1918
Following years of campaigning by the suffragettes, women first receive the right to vote under the Representation of the People Act (Britain and Ireland). This entitles women over the age of 30 to vote if they are a property owner, married to a property owner or a graduate voting in a university constituency.
1919
Constance Markievicz is elected to Ireland’s first ‘revolutionary’ Dáil. She is appointed Labour Minister. It is widely recognised that she was the second woman in the world to hold a ministerial position in a national government. Prior to this, in 1918, Constance became the first female MP elected to Westminster. She did not take her seat due to Sinn Féin’s policy of abstentionism.
1973
The bar on women working after they marry is lifted. This ceased for teachers in 1957 following a shortage in the profession. The marriage bar was introduced in the early 1930s and prohibited female civil servants working after they married. It extended to many private companies and businesses also.
1990
Mary Robinson becomes the first female president of Ireland and the seventh person elected to the office. In her victory speech, she speaks of “the women of Ireland, mná na hÉireann, who instead of rocking the cradle, rocked the system”. In her inauguration speech, she addresses the “citizens of Ireland, mná na hÉireann agus fir na hÉireann” and also says: “As a woman, I want women who felt themselves outside history to be written back into history.” She holds the office for one term.
Mary Robinson.Mary Robinson.
1997
Mary McAleese is elected the eight president of Ireland, the second woman to hold the position. She is the first president from Northern Ireland and in her inauguration speech she makes reference to violence in the North. The theme of her presidency is building bridges. She holds the office for two terms.
President McAleese.Mary McAleese.
2007
At the age of 29, Catherine Buckley becomes the first female president of Macra na Feirme. The Cork woman is elected unopposed as the 31st president of the organisation. Upon her election, she says that it is a time of change in farming and that her appointment is reflective of this.
Catherine Buckley.Catherine Buckley.
2012
Under new legislation introducing gender quotas to Irish politics, political parties’ minority sex candidates must make up 30% of the national ticket in a general election or face losing half of their exchequer funding.
2016
Women represent 55.1% of 25- to 34-year-olds with a third-level education in Ireland, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
2018
In a matter of months, the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) goes from having one woman on its national council, to having six females elected: Caroline Farrell, chair of the farm family committee; Imelda Walsh, Tipperary north; Erica O’Keeffe, Tipperary south; Anne Baker, Cork north; Anne Mitchell, Galway; and Elizabeth Orminston, Cavan.
How far we still have to go
No female Taoiseach
In the history of the State, Ireland has never had a female Taoiseach.
Less than 23% of TDs are women
Following the 2016 general election, 22.2% of TDs in the Dáil are women.
Mother’s duties in the home!
Bunreacht na hÉireann, the Constitution of Ireland states that a woman’s place is in the home: “In particular, the State recognises that by her life within the home, a woman gives to the state a support without which the common good cannot be achieved. The State shall, therefore, endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of duties in the home.”
Only 17% of Irish CEOs are women
A report published by the 30% Club in conjunction with
DCU, entitled Women in Management- the Leadership Pipeline 2016, showed that only 17% of Irish CEOs are women.
No women in senior IFA roles
In the IFA, no woman has been elected to the position of president, deputy president, treasurer or returning officer.
Women are paid less than men
On average, women are paid 13.9% less than men, according to figures released by the CSO in 2014.
Poor female representation in the Dáil
Although the last general election did see the number of women in the Dáil increase, 40% of electoral constituencies still have no female representation, while 100% of electoral constituencies have male representation.
830 women die every day from childbirth
Internationally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 830 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth and that 99% of these deaths take place in developing countries.
Worldwide, one in nine girls is married before the age of 15
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says that in developing countries one in four girls are married before reaching the age of 18 and one in nine are married under the age of 15.
Read more
Emily Logan on women's rights in rural Ireland
International Women's Day: female leaders in agriculture
1918
Following years of campaigning by the suffragettes, women first receive the right to vote under the Representation of the People Act (Britain and Ireland). This entitles women over the age of 30 to vote if they are a property owner, married to a property owner or a graduate voting in a university constituency.
1919
Constance Markievicz is elected to Ireland’s first ‘revolutionary’ Dáil. She is appointed Labour Minister. It is widely recognised that she was the second woman in the world to hold a ministerial position in a national government. Prior to this, in 1918, Constance became the first female MP elected to Westminster. She did not take her seat due to Sinn Féin’s policy of abstentionism.
1973
The bar on women working after they marry is lifted. This ceased for teachers in 1957 following a shortage in the profession. The marriage bar was introduced in the early 1930s and prohibited female civil servants working after they married. It extended to many private companies and businesses also.
1990
Mary Robinson becomes the first female president of Ireland and the seventh person elected to the office. In her victory speech, she speaks of “the women of Ireland, mná na hÉireann, who instead of rocking the cradle, rocked the system”. In her inauguration speech, she addresses the “citizens of Ireland, mná na hÉireann agus fir na hÉireann” and also says: “As a woman, I want women who felt themselves outside history to be written back into history.” She holds the office for one term.
Mary Robinson.Mary Robinson.
1997
Mary McAleese is elected the eight president of Ireland, the second woman to hold the position. She is the first president from Northern Ireland and in her inauguration speech she makes reference to violence in the North. The theme of her presidency is building bridges. She holds the office for two terms.
President McAleese.Mary McAleese.
2007
At the age of 29, Catherine Buckley becomes the first female president of Macra na Feirme. The Cork woman is elected unopposed as the 31st president of the organisation. Upon her election, she says that it is a time of change in farming and that her appointment is reflective of this.
Catherine Buckley.Catherine Buckley.
2012
Under new legislation introducing gender quotas to Irish politics, political parties’ minority sex candidates must make up 30% of the national ticket in a general election or face losing half of their exchequer funding.
2016
Women represent 55.1% of 25- to 34-year-olds with a third-level education in Ireland, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
2018
In a matter of months, the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) goes from having one woman on its national council, to having six females elected: Caroline Farrell, chair of the farm family committee; Imelda Walsh, Tipperary north; Erica O’Keeffe, Tipperary south; Anne Baker, Cork north; Anne Mitchell, Galway; and Elizabeth Orminston, Cavan.
How far we still have to go
No female Taoiseach
In the history of the State, Ireland has never had a female Taoiseach.
Less than 23% of TDs are women
Following the 2016 general election, 22.2% of TDs in the Dáil are women.
Mother’s duties in the home!
Bunreacht na hÉireann, the Constitution of Ireland states that a woman’s place is in the home: “In particular, the State recognises that by her life within the home, a woman gives to the state a support without which the common good cannot be achieved. The State shall, therefore, endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of duties in the home.”
Only 17% of Irish CEOs are women
A report published by the 30% Club in conjunction with
DCU, entitled Women in Management- the Leadership Pipeline 2016, showed that only 17% of Irish CEOs are women.
No women in senior IFA roles
In the IFA, no woman has been elected to the position of president, deputy president, treasurer or returning officer.
Women are paid less than men
On average, women are paid 13.9% less than men, according to figures released by the CSO in 2014.
Poor female representation in the Dáil
Although the last general election did see the number of women in the Dáil increase, 40% of electoral constituencies still have no female representation, while 100% of electoral constituencies have male representation.
830 women die every day from childbirth
Internationally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 830 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth and that 99% of these deaths take place in developing countries.
Worldwide, one in nine girls is married before the age of 15
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says that in developing countries one in four girls are married before reaching the age of 18 and one in nine are married under the age of 15.
Read more
Emily Logan on women's rights in rural Ireland
International Women's Day: female leaders in agriculture
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