The theme for this year is #BeBoldForChange and, as International Women’s Day dawns over Ireland this morning, it’s high time we did just that.
Today, as communities all over the globe celebrate the achievements of women and advance gender equality, at least 15 women from Ireland will travel to England for abortion care or request abortion medication online.
We deserve better.
Remember; today is your day. Do something worthwhile to mark it. Whether you’re heading to a march or showing solidarity in another way, it’s never been so important to find a way to support a women-led activity, idea or event.
Here are five things to do today:
GO: StrikeForRepeal
Workers from all walks of life will down tools to strike for one day on March 8th to demand access to safe and legal abortion in Ireland. You can show your solidarity in many ways; by striking or offering to cover colleagues’ hours as they attend a march, by wearing black on the day or by attending a march yourself, even at lunchtime or during your break.
Get involved in one of the following locations:
Dublin – O’Connell Bridge (12.30pm)
Cork, Blackpool – Blackpool Shopping Centre main entrance
Cork, city – the end of St. Patrick’s Hill on Mac Curtain Street
Belfast – Belfast City Hall
Galway – Eyre Square
Kerry – The Square, Tralee
Kilkenny – Saint John’s Bridge
Limerick – Bedford Row (2pm)
Mayo – Market Square, Castlebar (1pm)
Sligo – Strandhill Beach (2pm)
Meath, Navan – Kennedy Place
Meath, Ashbourne – Tesco car park (7pm)
A number of colleges will also take part. For a full list, click here.
HEAR: An International Women’s Day panel discussion in Trinity College
The Irish Feminist Network will host a panel discussion on Thursday, March 9th at 6:30pm. They’ll be discussing feminism in Ireland today with guest speakers including Jane Xavier of Au Pair Rights Ireland and Dr Clara Fischer of the Equality Budgeting Campaign.
WATCH: Out of Silence – Women’s Mental Health in Ireland
Helen McEntee TD, Minister for Mental Health and Older People will be launching Out of Silence – Women’s Mental Health in Ireland, at Dublin City Hall at 8pm. The short film features interviews with women, health professionals, practitioners and researchers, offering a blend of direct experiences, facts and figures and recommendations on what action needs to be taken. The NWCI launch will be followed by a Q&A session.
FOLLOW #SheMeansBusiness
Globally, 40% of business pages on Facebook are women-owned pages, a figure that is up 60% since last year. Facebook will mark International Women’s Day with a #SheMeansBusiness 24-hour around the world FB Live event. These Live sessions, two of which will be hosted in Dublin,will feature key influencers and small business owners on the topic of women in business, and encourage participation from people around the world using the hashtag #SheMeansBusiness.
12pm: Niamh Sweeney, Head of Public Policy, Facebook Ireland will speak with leading Irish entrepreneurs, Michelle O’Donnell Keating, co-founder of Women for Election, Alex Cooney, co-founder of CyberSafeIreland, Liz Walters who is the driving force behind An Cosan Virtual Community College and Aviva Cohen, founder and CEO of NeuroHero about their experiences of being women in business.
At 1.30pm: Ciaran Quilty, Vice-President of SMB for Facebook EMEA will speak with Alison Cowzer of Dragon’s Den and East Coast Bakehouse about her inspirations, path to success and her latest business venture.
SEE: NO ASSEMBLY REQUIRED!
A variety show of comedy, music, performance, and other exciting surprises to benefit the Abortion Rights Campaign (ARC) kicks off at 8pm at The Sugar Club on Dublin’s Leeson Street.
Comedian Tara Flynn will be your tour guide for a rollercoaster ride of exciting performances featuring the Voices for Choice Choir, comedians Eve Darcy and Laura Byrne and burlesque performer Alice Apparently.
