Catherine Martin T.D., Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, formally launched a new, narrated virtual tour of the pop-up museum, ‘100 Years of Women in Politics and Public Life, 1918 – 2018, on the Decade of Centenaries website, https://www.decadeofcentenaries.com/.
Speaking today Minister Martin said
In response to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, my Department and our stakeholders have been to the forefront in using digital content and a rich diversity of online outreach activities, to make our history accessible, engaging and relevant for people of all ages and traditions. My aim is to bring interesting and historically authentic content into people’s homes, until we can resume our normal programme delivery.
In order to shine a light on the important story of women’s participation in politics and public life over the past century, my Department was generously given unprecedented access to the personal and previously unseen archives of serving, former, and deceased elected representatives, public servants and activists. I am very grateful to these women and their families.
Dr Sinéad McCoole curated the pop-up museum and this virtual tour as part of the Decade of Centenaries Programme 2012 – 2023. It illuminates and celebrates the stories of very familiar and less well-known pioneering women, who have contributed significantly to Irish political life and public service. Every one of these women contributed to our national story in so many ways, sometimes with little acknowledgement or appreciation within their lifetimes.
The pop-up museum has nurtured, supported and informed national conversations about equality, mutual respect and the importance of women's participation in public service and political life. Women in Ireland continue to make huge contributions to public service within our communities and in public office, participating in and influencing decision-making processes at the highest levels.
This narrated virtual tour is a new initiative by the Commemorations Unit of the Department - a companion to the pop-up museum exhibition, which runs until 11th October 2020, in the Coach House at Dublin Castle Gardens. Admission to the exhibition is free and it is open to the public from Wednesdays to Sundays, from 10 am to 2 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm.
The virtual tour removes the barriers of geography and distance so that people who cannot travel to see the pop-up museum exhibition in person, can enjoy it from the comfort of their home. Decade by Decade, moving forwards or backwards through time, the tour provides a unique perspective on women’s experiences in modern Ireland.