This special forum discusses the impact of some well-known, and less well-known, women on the Ireland of today, participants will have the opportunity to share the outcomes of their research on the role of women in 1916 and over the last 100 years.
Over the course of the day, students will present their research on the challenges facing women 100 years ago to today, share stories and background on the women of 1916 who have made an impression on them and talk about their modern day role models and why they are important to them.
In addition to sharing their ideas and research material, participants will have the opportunity to reflect on the seminal moment in 1918 when women aged 30 were granted the right to vote in Britain and Ireland, what impact this has had and also discuss how this event might be marked in 2018.
Historian, author and curator of the Mná 1916/Women of 1916 special exhibition Sinéad McCoole, who will make a special presentation on the women of 1916 to the group, notes:
“2016, our Centenary Year, has provided a brilliant opportunity to shine a light on the experiences and contribution of an extraordinary group of women who played such an important role during Ireland’s revolutionary period. The hidden histories and, for many years, their untold stories are a vital part of our social history and a continuing source of inspiration to us, the many other extraordinary women who have followed in their footsteps and to future generations of young Irish women and men.”
Held in partnership with the Department of Education and Skills, this inspiring event promises to excite and engage the TY students of today with in-depth discussions of the challenges and changes that have affected women over the past 100 years.
The participating schools in TY Talks Women 1916-2016 are Castleblaney College (Monaghan), Loreto College (Dublin), St. Angela’s (Waterford) and Blackwater Community College (Lismore).
Pléifear an tionchar a bhí ag mná cáiliúla, agus ag mná nach raibh chomh cáiliúil sin, ar Éirinn an lae inniu san fhóram speisialta seo. Beidh deis ag rannpháirtithe an tionscnaimh seo torthaí a dtaighde ar ról na mban in 1916 agus le céad bliain anuas a roinnt lena chéile.
I gcaitheamh an lae, cuirfidh scoláirí a dtaighde i láthair ar na dúshláin a bhí le sárú ag mná céad bliain ó shin go dtí an lá atá inniu ann. Roinnfidh siad scéalta agus cúlra mhná 1916 a chuaigh i bhfeidhm orthu agus labhróidh siad faoi na mná eiseamláireacha a bhfuil tionchar acu orthu sa lá atá inniu ann agus an fáth a bhfuil siad tábhachtach dóibh.
Chomh maith lena gcuid tuairimí agus a n-ábhar taighde a roinnt, beidh deis ag rannpháirtithe a machnamh a dhéanamh ar an ócáid ríthábhachtach in 1918 nuair a bronnadh cearta vótála ar mhná os cionn 30 sa Bhreatain agus in Éirinn, an tionchar a bhí aige sin agus labhróidh siad faoin mbealach a bhféadfaí é sin a chomóradh in 2018.
Dúirt an staraí, údar agus coimeádaí an taispeántais speisialta Mná 1916/Women of 1916, Sinéad McCoole, a dhéanfaidh cur i láthair speisialta ar mhná 1916 don ghrúpa:
“Chuir 2016, Bliain an Chéid, deis iontach ar fáil chun léargas a thabhairt ar thaithí agus ar ionchur grúpa iontach ban a raibh ról tábhachtach acu le linn thréimhse réabhlóideach na hÉireann. Tá a stair cheilte, agus a scéalta a bhí gan insint ar feadh na mblianta, ina gcuid ríthábhachtach dár stair shóisialta agus is foinse leanúnach inspioráide iad dúinne, na mná iontacha a rinne mar a rinne mná rompu, chomh maith leis na glúine de mhná agus d’fhir óga na hÉireann atá fós le teacht.”
Beidh sé á eagrú i gcomhar leis an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna agus gealltar go gcruthóidh an ócáid inspioráideach seo spleodar agus go spreagfaidh sé scoláirí idirbhliana na linne seo le plé mion ar na dúshláin agus na hathruithe a raibh tionchar acu ar mhná le céad bliain anuas.
Is iad seo a leanas na scoileanna a bheidh rannpháirteach i gComhráite na hIdirbhliana – Mná 1916–2016: Coláiste Bhaile na Lorgan (Muineachán), Coláiste Loreto (Baile Átha Cliath), Coláiste Naomh Aingeal (Port Láirge) agus Coláiste Pobail na hAbhann Duibhe (an Lios Mór).