Donegal County Museum has welcomed a new temporary exhibition celebrating 100 years of women in politics and public life.
The pop-up exhibition shines a spotlight on the stories of women who have contributed significantly to Irish society over the past century. Through information panels, films and historical memorabilia, the displays focus on the challenges women faced and the obstacles they overcame.
This exhibition is curated by historian Sinéad McCoole and supported by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht as part of the Decade of Centenaries programme.
This exhibition encourages people of all ages to reflect upon and celebrate all that have been achieved over the past 100 years. There is, however, considerable work remaining to be done.
In 1918, women exercised their right to vote for the first time, and their right to stand for parliament with Countess de Markievicz being elected. Since then only 113 women have been elected to Dáil Éireann.
Only 19 of these have been appointed to Cabinet, including Mary Coughlan from Donegal Town, who was first elected as a Fianna Fáil TD in 1997 and who held five Ministerial portfolios between 2001 and 2011 and Cecilia Keaveney from Moville, who served as Fianna Fáil TD between 1996 and 2007 and as a Senator from 2007 to 2011.
The exhibition includes personal stories and memories. Much of this previously unseen archive material, photographs, letters, diaries and ephemera have added layers of meaning to the complex narrative surrounding women’s participation in political and public life over the past 100 years.
Admission is free. The exhibition runs to the end of June.
Opening hours 10am – 4.30pm Lunch 12.30 – 1pm Saturday 1- 4.30pm.
Donegal County Museum, High Road, Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
T 074 9124613 E museum@donegacoco.ie