merrion street

The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys T.D., has today announced that a new specially commissioned public art piece will be unveiled in Dublin, to highlight the role of women in 1916 and the achievements of Irish women over the last 100 years, as part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme.

The Department intends to work with Dublin City Council and the Arts Council in the commissioning of this ‘Permanent Reminder’. The concept for the art piece was one of a number of recommendations made at the women's workshop on 1916, hosted by Minister Humphreys earlier this year. 

Minister Humphreys has also announced that her Department is supporting two flagship symposia, focussing on the role of women in 1916 and beyond. The conferences will be held later this year in collaboration with the National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) and the 'Waking the Feminists' movement. 

Minister Humphreys said:

"One of my priorities in leading the 1916 commemorations has been to highlight the role and lives of the remarkable and capable women of 1916 and to allow their voices to be heard; in many cases for the first time. 

"A new specially commissioned art piece, being funded by my Department will prominently reflect the role of women in 1916, and will leave a positive and lasting legacy piece in our capital city.  We intend to work with Dublin City Council and the Arts Council in commissioning this special piece. The streets of Dublin are largely populated with statues representing men from our history; this new art piece will go some way to ensure the women of our history are also represented.

"The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme has been rich with female narrative. Thanks to new historical research, we have heard the stories of women who had such an impact on this country 100 years ago.

"The commemorations have also provided us with a platform to examine and consider the role of women in Irish life 100 years after 1916 and particularly the space occupied by women in our cultural landscape. 

"I want to continue to facilitate the expansive examination of the role of women in Irish life and culture - historically but also in the context of contemporary society in 2016 and as we consider our ambitions for the future. My Department is supporting two symposia, hosted by the National Women's Council and Waking the Feminists, which will examine the role of women in our society today and will leave a lasting legacy for future generations of women and men."