Tomorrow (Tuesday March 8) is International Women’s Day which is a celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and a worldwide call to accelerate women’s equality.
To mark the occasion a group of 60 or so local women got together on Friday last at the Forge Farm Coffee Shop in Termonfeckin to celebrate and to share their experiences. They also raised €800 for Women’s Aid.
Speakers on the night, which was organised by the Well Termonfeckin group whose aim is to improve the well-being of the community and create a sense of community were: Orla O’Connor, Maria Flynn (Ballymakenny Farm), Natalie Kelly (Drogheda Dolls), Mog Downey (Development Perspectives), Dr. Fatima Hamroush (Opthamoligist), Caroline Corrigan (Senior Engineer) and local author Nicola Cassidy.
The evening was MC’d by Julie Logue and Michelle Hall.
Orla O’Connor spoke about the power of giving birth and choosing to listen and use your intuition. She shared her beautiful voice in song too.
Maria Flynn from Ballymakenny Farm Spudshack told of how delighted she was to be invited locally to tell her story of building her hobby of farming heritage spuds into a thriving business.
Natalie Kelly showed the audience pictures of houses and reminded the audience that we don’t know what’s behind each door. Kindness to others is the ethos of Drogheda Dolls and she lives that every day.
Mog Downey told a story of a well in Tanzania, the need to hear women’s perspectives and the social importance of water.
Farah Elle sang her own original music and spoke about how casual racism exists in Ireland and the need for self-awareness.
Farah’s mother, Dr Fatima Hamroush, told of her journey from Libya to Ireland, the bias and bullying she experienced working for the HSE. As Libyan Minister for Health in 2011/12 she experienced death threats and a smear campaign. She survived and has written her memoirs.
Caroline Corrigan spoke about the world of engineering that hasn’t changed much in her 30 year career. How being a woman in that space can bring so much to the job and she’s happy to mentor young women who want to choose that career.
Nicola Cassidy got her audience thinking about women in publishing and screenwriting. She spoke about the authors such as JK Rowling who use their initials rather than their full names to sell their books. She spoke about how women’s stories are not seen on screen as often as men’s and being told “it’s ‘only’ for women.”
Michelle Hall spoke of her dear friend, the late Eileen Rushe, who was an inspiration and who also highlighted the bias she experienced as a lone parent even being turned away by the parish priest when she wanted her son baptised.
#IWD2022 #BreakTheBias
