Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
TODAY MARKS INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day, which has been celebrated by the United Nations since 1975.
The United Nations says International Women’s Day “is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities”.
Equality
This year’s theme is: Equality for women is progress for all.
The emphasise on today’s celebrations is how gender equality, empowerment of women, women’s full enjoyment of human rights is a vital role of women as agents of development.
There are an array of events taking place internationally. In Dublin, a protest will take place at 1pm outside the Central Bank to support a woman’s right to choose, end violence against women and stop austerity.
The protest is organised by Reproductive rights, against Opression, Sexism and Austerity (ROSA), the Abortion Rights Campaign, Irish Feminist Network, Union of Students in Ireland, Action for Choice, Real-Productive Health and DCU SU .
Other groups and individuals campaigning for women’s rights and equality are welcome to get involved.
Soapbox
The National Women’s Council of Ireland are also organising a soapbox in Dublin, where they said they hope to replicate the “fire and passion” of the early feminists and their political campaigning for equality.
The Soapbox, which will be situated in a Marque outside the GPO from 12pm to 4pm. Women are encouraged to come along and get involved, while the NWCI will also live tweet what women are saying under #NWCISoapBox.
In the evening, there is a night of music and spoken word taking place in Liberty Hall, to celebrate the naming of the Rosie Hackett Bridge.
Writer and actor Tara Flynn will MC the event which features music from jazz band Zrazy; songs from the incomparable Rita Fagan; poetry and prose from Enda Wyley, Catherine Anne Cullen, Kitty Holland, Justine McCarthy, Rachel Hegarty, Mary Russell and many more. The night kicks off at 7.30pm.
However, it’s not just in Dublin where events will be taking place.
Kilkenny
In Kilkenny, a balloon ceremony will take place at Lady Sesart Bridge at 1.30pm where balloons will be released carrying messages of hope.
There will also be a candle lighting ceremony outside the town hall at 2pm, where women from different communities will say a few words in their own language.
In Waterford, a concert by piano and cello players Rachel Quinn and Annette Cleary will perform in Christ Church Cathedral at 8pm, while in Derry, there will be a celebration of the music of women in Irish folk and traditional music will take place in Culturlann Ui Chanain.
What events are happening where you are? Tell us in the comments section below.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
As an ordinary mother and worker I find the whole concept patronising
I bet they all have lovely bottoms all the same
Have you no washing to be doing?
I would say a large portion of them don’t have lovely bottoms
As a ordinary mother and a worker I find the whole concept empowering.
It connects us back to the women who pre ww1 marched for bread and roses and better workiing conditions.
Nearly a 100 years later we are still having to march and fight for our rights.
Yeah there are so many civil rights men have that women are denied.
Here’s the full list;
What about the right to make choices about their body?
Today is International BOD day. That is all.
Happy Women’s day to all the Deli staff in SPAR Ireland!
This PC nonsense is getting out of control
Stand up for discrimination against women in the Catholic Church.
The Catholic church discriminates against a lot of groups, not just women.
I think you should stand up and just walk out of the church
Agree, but this is Women’s Day.
Yes, Did that
Hi Teresa.. I do get why a woman might feel discriminated in the Catholic Church.. Were there any particular incidents or is it just the structure
Sinead, Structure, women can’t become Priests- 50% of the population going back to a law made 2,000 years ago.
It’ll be a long long time before women become priests.. Do u go to Mass anymore?
I don’t think anyone goes to Mass anymore Sinead
for pancake day I ate pancakes all day, for Easter egg day I ate chocolate Easter eggs all day so for women’s day I must eat what all day……………
I think I really like this day
What you do for Paddys Day?
And fathers day
Well done Roger Sir.
Mother’s Day?
Christmas?
Is there a men’s day
The other 364 days of the year :)
November 19th
You’ll know when it’s International Men’s Day because feminists on twitter will be complaining about it. That’s about all the publicity it gets
Yes in November.
http://www.internationalmensday.com/
Happy International Women’s Day to everyone
Wrong wrong wrong …. We have some of the strongest educated women in the world ….. And making a special for them I would guess makes them feel inferior …… They are well able to progress based on merit and would be insulted with a ” woman’s” day
Jezz Pat. Yesterday you were an expert on women’s orgasms and today your an expert on women. You have a BIG pink side or are you a little gay perhaps ??
Nicole, I think women’s day continues to be relevant in a country like Ireland because gender relations are still in a state of flux, trying to find a balance. Personally I find pat’s reply a little extreme but I see where he’s coming from and agree with the sentiment. You, on the other hand, suggest that he’s a bit womanly (and you don’t mean it in a positive way) or failing that he must be ‘a bit gay’. So a man making a comment like that must be effeminate, which is bad, and gay men are always effeminate?
Nothing about making sandwiches in the article
Let’s just have a ‘human’ day. .every day.they’re great so they are
I’m not
I got the iron and ironing board ready for her In honour of the day that’s in it!
This is big day in eastern European countries. We are only catching on to the 8th of march.
Happy womans day ladies
Very true, eye. I am still to convince my Irish hubby and children that I prefer my card on 8 march rather than on mother’s day, a day when servant girls were allowed to go and visit their mothers.
I got a text this morning from friends in Belarus which when translated from Russian on google translate read “Dear Jane, congratulations on March 8th”. I hadn’t a clue what this was about until I googled March 8th and Belarus, and found out that today is a national holiday there for women’s day. Nice one :)
What a load of old sh!te. …….
Ah shite! Is this another day when I have to buy herself a card?
Its Lady Dysart bridge in Kilkenny.
Shame they have to release balloons which ultimately result in littering…
Way to rain on the parade . I’d say your great craic at parties
Pretty litter, ie balloon releases cause damage, particularly to sea bird populations. IWDG and other groups are quite vocal about it:
http://www.iwdg.ie/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=2301
I wonder if I proposed international men’s day how it would go down?
There already is one on November 19th.
@Massimo
“I wonder if I proposed international men’s day how it would go down?”
No need! One already exists. It’s on November 19th. It took me three seconds to find out.
Men’s Day can’t be very effective if so many of us haven’t heard if it.
Today, on this august occasion, I intend to place all Lady Appleby’s brassieres upon a fire, and go through her address book to ensure it consists of a precise balance between the genders, while contacting those superfluous ladies to helpfully inform them that she can no longer continue their acquaintance. No doubt she will be most pleased with my efforts to promote equality, and I await her reaction with relish.
What could possibly go wrong?
Subway shops should be rebranded, collage for women on how to have the skills to make sandwiches for the head of the household.
@ john “college” I think is what you meant
Collage works too, if you have a bit of imagination.
Indeed. Wall to wall baps.
Made a collage sambo once, stuck a lightbulb on top, gave it to my lord and master (he who rules the household), and told him it was a light snack.
Richard Boyle: Really?
Mugabe, Bashar Al-Asad, Kim Jong II, Qaddafi, Chavez, Pol Pot, Chairman Mao,Vlad the Impaler, Stalin, Hitler, Nicholas II, Leopold II, Hideki Tojo, Omar Al-Bashir, Hussein, Kim II Sung, M Haile Mariam, Yakubu Gowon….
the list is endless
I would gladly go to a decent Mardi gras style festival to celebrate this day, one with vibrant music and dancing, much more fun than a soapbox or balloon releasing event.
It’s been International Women’s Day all week
Actually it has been ongoing for the last number of years, hereabouts.
Hopefully this evening, women will express their individuality by not wearing layers of makeup, fake tan, fake nails, fake hair extensions and fake personalities.
The worst and bloodiest rulers in history were women, Cleopatra, Cathaline of Russia, Elizabeth the 1st.
… Lady Appleby’s dear mother.
Margret thatcher
Isn’t the current Ombudsman a woman too? Fair play to her.
I was at the protest in Dublin, and here’s my article about it.
http://thecircular.org/womens-rights-activists-protest-outside-central-bank/
The hypocritical rightous outrage stakes will be high at the central bank so .
have your say