Eternal Rebels: Irish Women Changemakers Exhibition
Eternal Rebels: Irish Women Changemakers Exhibition
June 7 @ 10:00 am – October 31 @ 5:00 pm IST
Photography, poetry and storytelling highlighting the lives of 12 women changemakers in Irish history
Book Your Place
Available to view as part of the Old Barracks Heritage Centre self-guided tour. More info here.
Artists
Mary Moynihan, writer, director, creator of art and photography
Full Event Details
Eternal Rebels: Irish Women Changemakers is a visual art exhibition by Mary Moynihan blending photography, poetry and storytelling highlighting the lives of 12 women changemakers in Irish history. The Barracks Heritage Centre has three floors of immersive exhibitions, historical artefacts and panoramic turret views telling stories of the Royal Irish Constabulary, the Fenian Rising, and the local people who shaped history including the story of Irish politician Daniel O’Connell, known as the liberator. Artist Mary Moynihan has a series of storyboard artworks on display in various locations throughout the building under the title of Eternal Rebels highlighting the extraordinary stories of women changemakers in Irish history. Eternal Rebels can be seen as part of the normal entrance fee to The Barracks Heritage experience – an exhibition within an exhibition.
The women are Constance Markievicz (1868-1927), Irish politician, revolutionary nationalist, suffragette and socialist; Eva Gore-Booth (1870-1926), poet, writer, trade unionist, feminist, a campaigner for equality and social justice, and a sister of Irish revolutionary Countess Markievicz; Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington (1877-1946), radical activist, feminist, pacifist, human rights campaigner and one of Ireland’s foremost suffragettes; Dr Kathleen Lynn (1874-1955), medical doctor, politician, feminist, suffragist, Republican and socialist; Margaret Skinnider (1893-1971), revolutionary feminist and trade unionist; Helena Molony (1884-1967), republican, feminist and labour activist; Grace Evelyn Gifford (1888-1955), illustrator, caricaturist and supporter of Irish independence; Sarah Curran (1782-1808), a true disciple of Mary Wollstonecraft and Robert Emmet’s clandestine lover. Two of the women are from Valentia Island – Helen Blackburn (1842-1903), Writer, Suffragist and Feminist Campaigner for Women’s Rights and Worker’s Rights; and Maude Jane Delap (1866-1953), a pioneering Marine Biologist who had a sea anemone named after her, the ‘Edwardsia delapiae’, which she discovered in shallow sea waters on Valentia Island’s shores. Enjoy stories of people who all left a legacy that resonates far beyond their time. Renowned for their tireless advocacy for civil and human rights, for nature and the environment, and for women’s rights, these are people who championed equality, inclusion, and the empowerment of all people. Two new stories are added for this year’s annual Kerry Arts and Human Rights festival – Mary O’Connell and Janie McCarthy. Janie McCarthy (1885-1964) from Killarney, Ireland lived in Paris during World War II and became involved in the French Resistance. She managed to evade capture and survived the war. Her area of specialisation was in rescue work, saving a number of lives including members of the allied intelligence services and armies. Mary O’Connell (1778-1836), wife of Daniel O’Connell, was born in nearby Tralee and raised a family of children under extraordinary circumstances. This event is funded by Kerry County Council and Failte Ireland.
Speaker Biographies:
Mary Moynihan, MA, she/her, is an award-winning author of novels, plays, poetry and films, originally from Dublin, Ireland. Mary has an honours BA in Drama and Theatre Studies from Trinity College Dublin and an honours Masters in Film Production from TU Dublin. Mary embarked upon her award-winning career as a writer in theatre and film and has garnered much acclaim for her plays, poetry and short film scripts and for creating inter-disciplinary artworks combining writing and photography presented in galleries and online. She established and became Artistic Director of Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and is Artistic Curator for the annual Dublin Arts and Human Rights festival.
After raising four children, now all adults, and following her recovery from serious illness, Mary dedicated her time to becoming a writer. She writes fiction for young people and adults featuring stories of courage, laughter, tragedy, happiness, love, death and action-packed adventures. Mary is the author of a young adult fantasy novel series Amergin and the Warriors of Zen. In her adult fiction, Mary’s characters are clever, fearless, vulnerable, crazy, and strong, looking for love, fun, success and happiness. Her work promises enthralling plots, dramatic lives, lots of laughs, serious flirting and sexual intrigue and insights into love, happiness, creativity and meaning in life.
Mary pens a series of articles and Creative Musings on Arts, Creativity, Leadership and Self-Esteem which appears in the Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality newsletter and on Mary’s website marymoynihan.ie
In her free time Mary loves to spend time with her four adult children, hang out with friends and swims in the sea all year round. She loves the ocean, sky and moon and has a spiritual connection to the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea, to the environs of Dublin bay and to the mystical landscapes of Valentia Island and the surrounding Iveragh peninsula in County Kerry, her spiritual home. She is a big fan of the Dublin GAA Gaelic football and hurling teams.
Organisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):
