Happy International Women’s Day! Today is a day to celebrate the achievements of women and raise awareness about discrimination
On this day, every year, we take time to envision a world that is equal for women, diverse, inclusive and equitable. We imagine people not only having equal opportunities and pay but also being given the equity to succeed from their individual starting point, whatever that may be.
This year, IWD’s theme is #EmbraceEquity and you can read more about the difference between equality and equity here.
If you feel like celebrating the occasion, there are plenty of events happening around the country today – here are just a few of them:
A photo exhibition
The Tralee International Resource Centre (TIRC) will mark the occasion by hosting a photo exhibition, which illustrates the level of diversity among women living in the town.
The event embraces the theme of ‘Different Faces, One Community, Embrace Diversity,’ and speaking to The Kerryman, TIRC Family Support Worker Theresa Elumelu said:
“In our work, we meet so many different women from different countries, but we all come together and support each other as one community, in our weekly women’s group or our parent-and-toddler group.”
A new set of stamps
A celebration of women in leadership roles
Conrad Dublin is celebrating International Women’s Day by championing the women behind some of the nation’s top hospitality, philanthropy, food and beverage production. Later today, the city-centre hotel will host the ‘Embracing Equity – Women in Hospitality & Leadership’ panel. Moderated by Irish Country Magazine contributor Jo Linehan, the panel will feature some of Ireland’s top women in hospitality, philanthropy, food and beverage sharing in their experience of growing a career in their respective industries.
Free fitness classes
To celebrate International Women’s Day, FFS gym are hosting fitness classes in Dundrum Town Centre’s Pembroke District on March 8. FFS Gym are partnering with Lululemon for these workouts and providing goodies bags with healthy treats and refreshments for those involved too! Here is the link to sign up for this fun way to celebrate women across the world.
Events organised by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
• The Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) has arranged a variety of activities for International Women’s Day, such as a biodiversity walk through their magnificent formal gardens and meadows. Visitors can also learn all there is to know about natural dyeing and ink making processes, as well as taking part in a guided tour of the retrospective exhibition, ‘Irish Gothic’ by Patricia Hurl. More information can be found here .
• Dublin’s James Joyce Centre will host ‘Reading Molly’, a group reading of Molly Bloom’s famous soliloquy from James Joyce’s Ulysses. This extraordinary final chapter of Joyce’s epic Dublin novel brings out all the wit and passion of one of the finest passages of writing in modern literature. See here for more details.
• On March 8, the National Gallery of Ireland is hosting an International Women’s Day-themed tour, exploring a selection of works by women artists in the Gallery’s permanent collection. More details available here .
• And in Cork, the Crawford Art Gallery will be promoting three Irish artists from their Behind the Scenes exhibition. Norah Brigid Ní Chuill’s work looks at Traveller culture in a positive or non-stereotypical light. Angela Burchill is a member of the Crawford Supported Studios, and Suzanna Chan is an artist of colour whose work challenges the performance of stereotypical gender roles. The artworks by these women bring diversity and inclusion to the National Collection. More details available here .
A charitable collaboration
And finally, if you’re looking to get your Mother’s Day sorted early, why not check out these beautiful hand creams from L’Occitane in honour of International Women’s Day. The brand has partnered up with the inspirational Irish charity Women’s Aid for #IWD2023 whose vision is an equal Ireland with zero tolerance of domestic abuse and all other forms of violence against women. For each Give Back Hand Cream sold from Feb 2, L’Occitane will be donating €2 to Women’s Aid.
