Inspiring Women

Barry McColgan
National Organiser
Ógra Shinn Féin

When asked who is the most inspirational women in your life, I find it strange that many neglect to say their mother, grandmothers or both.

Personally it is the most obvious answer, your mother who brought you into the world, and who cared for you when you couldn’t fend for yourself, your mother who always afforded an understanding ear and guided you on your path of life.

On a personal level, my mother and grandmothers are my most inspirational women because of the help and assistance in my formative years.


However when asked who my most inspirational republican women is, I cannot pin point one, as I have many, each with a differing defiant characteristic that is utterly inspiring.

Sheena Campbell, Mairead Farrell, Patricia Black, Maire Drumm, Nora Connolly, Countess Markievicz, yet these are obvious ones, there are many more, many who are alive today, Martina Anderson, Ella O’Dwyer, and of course Eibhlinn Glenholmes, and an ever growing and constant stream of young republican woman inspiring confidence in their communities, Sinn Féin and Ógra today.

The confident young female activists of today, are who they are, because of the strong leadership and sacrifice by the women who went before them, women who have sacrificed their time, liberty and lives in pursuit of our republican objectives.

Who could fail to be inspired by Maire Drumm’s selfless and motivational words,

“The only people worthy of freedom are those who are willing to go out and fight for it everyday and die if necessary.”

These women stalwarts of republicanism have defined the confidence, the bravery and the ingenuity for the next generation of female activists.

No more is a women’s place at home, no more will a women’s voice be censored, no more will women be resigned to menial tasks, the legacy of these risen women is a confident forward looking republican women of today.

Just look around you, Toireasa Ferris, Kathleen Funchion, Charlene O’Hara, Andrea O’Kane, and Gemma McKenna, all proud, dedicated and extremely confident republican activists who will no doubt be leading republicanism in the not so distant future.

Irish Republicanism has always been a progressive force in promoting women and affording them equal rights, through the establishment of Cumann na mBan, electing Countess Markiviez as the first female TD in 1918, Sinn Féin electing Margaret Buckley as Party President in 1938, young women joining Óglaigh na hÉireann and engaged in the prison protests, and today’s strong promotion of women is ever evident by the growing number of female candidates and activists.

A lot has been achieved but now is not a time to be complacent and much more needs to be done.
Sinn Féin and Ógra need to build on their progressive gender policy and strive for the party to be a reflection of Irish society, if we ever want to challenge Ireland’s patriarchal and male dominated society; we need to ensure much more confident women recruited and many more female activists in leadership positions.

Countess Markieviczs’ election to the first Dáil Éireann some 90 years ago truly was a ground breaking feat, and that combined with her founding role of Na Fianna, makes her a very relevant historical figure as we mark the 90th anniversary of the First Dáil, and the 100th anniversary of Na Fianna.

She dedicated her life to the struggle for Irish freedom, she ensured the constant recruitment and education of new republicans through Na Fianna, and she led from the front as a women, making her voice heard, and ensuring her opinions where met, there are lessons in her life and actions for all of us.

Long live women in struggle. Beir bua!