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Celebrating Irish women and the vote  A
new book which forms the first comprehensive collection of articles on
the Irish suffrage movement is being launched at Middlesex University.
Irish Women and the Vote: Becoming Citizens is co-edited by Louise Ryan
and Margaret Ward and provides coverage of the suffrage movement from
its beginnings in the mid-19th century to the years when feminist militancy
exploded on the streets of Belfast.
Middlesex University’s Dr Louise Ryan said the Irish suffrage movement
involved many organisations and women from all over the country, of all
ages, class and religious backgrounds.
She said: “Per head of population, the Irish movement was of comparable
size with the British movement but the context of the two movements were
very different.”
“The Irish suffrage movement took place against the backdrop of
growing nationalism and the increasingly militant campaign for Irish independence.”
“Votes for women and Irish independence were often regarded as competing
campaigns.”
With research from both new scholars and established authors from Ireland,
Britain and America, the book provides a new perspective on the work of
the suffragist and the realities of campaigning for the vote in country
towns.
Dr Ryan said: “Margaret and I have been publishing around the Irish
suffrage movement for many years and we were aware of the need for a comprehensive
collection bringing together all the many aspects and facets of the Irish
suffrage movement.”
“We were delighted that all the established historians of Irish
suffrage as well as several new, young researchers wanted to be involved
in this project.”
Dean of Middlesex University’s School of Health & Social Sciences
Jan Williams said the book launch, which takes place in the university’s
Social Policy Research Centre on July 5, reflects some key interests of
the centre.
Irish Women And The Vote: Becoming Citizens is published by Irish Academic
Press and retails at £20.
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