New Online Resource Exploring Women’s History Launched for Decade of Centenaries

The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has launched a major new online resource for exploring the role of women in the decade of centenaries.

Mná100 is a dedicated website that explores the roles women played in the events leading up to partition and the formation of Northern Ireland, the Truce of July 1921, and the Civil War. It builds on previous initiatives to highlight the role of women in the decade of centenaries, and will also develop new collaborations and partnerships to reflect on key themes such as the role of women in advocating for Ireland internationally; the role of women’s organisations during the Campaign for Independence and the Civil War; women in the Oireachtas; and the stories of the pioneering women who were trailblazers within their chosen professions.

The stories of these women will be brought to life for new audiences of all ages using a diverse range of media, including film, podcasts, exhibitions, webinars, public talks, and photo essays – all grounded in primary source material. The Mná 100 initiative will work with the National Cultural Institutions, institutes of learning, local authority partners, creatives and artists, relatives and other contributors to bring new material into the public domain to ensure that the role of women during these formative years will be remembered appropriately.

The first piece of major new research, now live on the website, explores the Report of the American Commission on the Conditions in Ireland through a new curated video piece, Toward America. This was developed in collaboration with New York University, showcasing original research and previously unseen photos and documents.

Announcing the website’s launch, Minister Catherine Martin TD said:

“I am really pleased to launch Mná 100 today. One of my priorities for the final phase of the Decade of Centenaries is to ensure that the contribution of women in our history, particularly during the Irish revolutionary period, is appropriately documented and illuminated.

This new online platform gives us a dedicated place to provide a range of content on the role of women in the seminal moments of our journey towards self-determination and sovereignty. Some of these women are familiar figures, while the voices of others have never before been heard or have long since been forgotten. I am delighted that all of these women are taking their rightful place in our history.”

Other initiatives connected to Mná 100 will include a new podcast series, and a one-day seminar hosted in partnership with the International Association of Women’s Museums.