Mna na nGall Exhibition Booklet Donegal County Museum 2025
MNÁ NA NGALL 1922 - 1980 DONEGAL WOMEN
A powerful exhibition on women’s lives in Ireland from 1922 – 1980
Donegal County Museum, Culture Division, Donegal County Council
Introduction
“It has been a long continuous battle in which many women have struggled to gain equality, each generation adding something to the achievements of the past.” Hilda Tweedy, A Link in the Chain: The Story of the Irish Housewives Association 1942–1992.
The Proclamation of the Irish Republic read from the steps of the GPO on the 24th April 1916 stated, “The Irish Republic is entitled to, and hereby claims, the allegiance of every Irishman and Irishwoman. The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and of all its parts, cherishing all of the children of the nation equally, and oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an alien Government, which have divided a minority from the majority in the past.”
However, the first and second Irish governments after the formation of the Free State were not supporters of women’s rights. During the 1920s and 1930s and supported by the Catholic Church, strict moral codes were enshrined in law including in 1925 the abolition of the right to divorce by Private Member’s Bill and in 1935 a ban on the importation and sale of contraceptives.
The 1937 Constitution of Ireland guaranteed women the right to vote and to nationality and citizenship on an equal basis with men. However, Article 41.2 states:
“[...] the State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved. The State shall, therefore, endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home.”
In a referendum in 2024 voters in the Republic of Ireland overwhelmingly voted against amending this Article in the Constitution for a wide variety of reasons including a lack of clarity over the new wording and concerns about the possible impact on carers.
Although these measures were not unique to Ireland, their strictness and longevity was, with many of them only being reversed following our membership of the European Economic Community in 1973.
Women workers on the way to the Gaeltacht industry Factory at Teelin, Co Donegal, October 1935, Irish Press
Some things a woman could not do in Ireland 60 years ago
Keep her job in the civil or public service when she got married
The Civil Service Regulation Act, 1924 allowed the Minister for Finance to regulate the classification, pay and other conditions and terms of service of civil service employees. On 26 April 1924, the minister, Ernest Blythe, passed a statutory order under Section 9, commanding that female civil servants holding permanent posts would be required on marriage to resign from the service.
How it changed
The Civil Service (Employment of Married Women) Act 1973 ended the legal requirement that women working in state jobs retire upon marriage.
In 1977 the Employment Equality Act prohibited discrimination on the grounds of gender or marital status in almost all areas of employment.
Collect the children’s allowance
The 1944 legislation that introduced the payment of children’s allowances (now called child benefit) specified that they be paid to the father. The father could, if he chose, mandate his wife to collect the money, but she had no right to it.
How it changed
Responding to the report of the Commission on the Status of Women, the 1974 Social Welfare Act entitled mothers to collect children’s allowance.
Get the same rate of pay for a job as a man
In March 1970, the average hourly pay for women was five shillings, while that for men was over nine. In areas covered by a statutory minimum wage, the female rate was two-thirds that of men. Women were also barred from most apprenticeships, and while a man could sign on the dole upon turning 18, a woman couldn’t.
How it changed
Article 119 of the Treaty of Rome obliged member states to ensure that men and women received equal pay for equal work. This article was further strengthened by Directive 75/117 and EC Directive 76/207. The Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act, 1974, prohibited sex-based pay discrimination, and the Employment Equality Act, 1977, prohibited disparate treatment based on sex and marital status.
Live securely and safely in her own home
Under Irish law, a married woman had no right to a share in her family home. Her husband could sell the home and possessions, or mortgage it without her consent or even knowledge. Abusive spouses could not be ordered to stay away from the family home.
Under Irish law, a married woman was deemed to have the same “domicile” as her husband. This meant that if her husband left her and moved to Australia, her legal domicile was deemed to be Australia. Women, who could not get a divorce in Ireland, could find themselves divorced in countries where their husbands were domiciled.
How it changed
Under the Family Home Protection Act of 1976, neither spouse can sell the family home without the written consent of the other.
Women’s Aid campaigned for changes in the law, and in 1976 the Family Law Act enabled one spouse to seek a barring order against the other where the welfare or safety of a spouse or children was at risk. In 1981, protection orders were introduced, and barring orders were increased up to 12 months.
The Domicile and Recognition of Foreign Divorces Act 1986 granted married women the right to an independent domicile.
Drink in a pub on her own
Although it was not illegal for women to enter pubs in the 1960s, it was legal for pub owners to refuse them entry. As late as the 1970s, it was still uncommon to see women in pubs. If women were allowed in, they were not expected to sit with the men. Many of our pubs still have a layout that reflect this, with a bar space (that was meant for men) and a lounge space (that was meant for women).
How it changed
Women’s groups staged protests in the early 1970s and attitudes slowly changed. However, it wasn’t until 2002, that the Equal Status Act banned gender discrimination in the provision of goods and services. It defined discrimination as “less favourable treatment”. Service can be refused only if there is a reasonable risk of disorderly or criminal conduct.
Women in politics
“We’ve
been very poor. We’re one of the worst counties in the country, when it comes to electing female councillors.”
Cllr Niamh Kennedy, April 2024
The 1898 Local Government Act vastly increased the franchise. Women could now vote in local elections, though it was only from 1911 that women could stand in County Council elections. The UK Representation of the People Act 1918, granted women over the age of 30 the right to vote. 1918 was also the first time Irish women were allowed to stand in parliamentary elections. Under the first Free State government in 1922 universal suffrage was enacted. Women and men over the age of 21 could now vote in all elections and run for all elections.
Across Ireland, a total of 42 women were elected to local councils in 1920, signalling the way for greater participation of women in the electoral process at local level. In Donegal however it would be almost 60 years before a woman was elected as a County Councillor - Susan McGonagle, elected in 1979.
In Letterkenny, representation in local government was very low from its inception in 1899 to its dissolution in 2014. Only five of the Urban (Town) Council elected members were women –Kate McCarry (1925), Sally Blake (1967), May McClintock (Co-Opted 1974; Elected 1979), Jean Crossan (1999) and Lisa Culbert (Co-Opted 2013).
Since the inauguration of the Irish Free State, only two TDs from Donegal have been women, Mary Coughlan, Fianna Fáil (1987- 2011) and Cecilia Keaveney, Fianna Fáil (1996- 2007) (Senator from 2007 -2011). Mary Coughlan served in several ministerial posts including Minister for Education & Skills and Minister for Health. She was also the only person from Donegal to serve as Tánaiste (Deputy leader) 2008 – 2011.
In 2012, the Oireachtas adopted a law obliging political parties to select at least 30% women candidates to contest general elections. The threshold rose to 40% in 2023. If the quota is not met, political parties will lose 50% of the State funding they receive on an annual basis. However, the law does not apply to local elections and currently just 17 per cent of councillors are women. Of those elected in the local elections in Donegal in 2024 only 3 of a total of 37 councillors are women. In the 2024 general election campaign the Gender Quota led to a record number of women candidates (246). However, only 25% (44 of 174) of the new TD’s are women. The EU average is 32.2%. 14 out of 31 constituencies have no women TD’s – this includes Donegal.
Kate McCarry Sally Blake May McClintock
Jean Crossan
Lisa Culbert
Mary Coughlan
Cecilia Keaveney
Susan McGonagle
ELECTION CANDIDATES
In County Donegal, over the years, there has been a number of women who have run for election, they include:
General Election
Donegal County Council
1942 Mary Deeney
1974
1970
Maeve Gilmartin, (Labour)
1973
Kathleen Murray Diskin (Independent)
1981
Anne Wilkinson (Labour)
Anne Barton (Independent)
Dorothy Borland (Fianna Fáil)
Brid Bonner (Fianna Fáil)
May McClintock (Fine Gael)
Helen O’Sullivan (Fine Gael)
1979
Rosemary McCafferty (Fianna Fáil)
Susan McGonagle (Ind Fianna Fáil)
May McClintock (Fine Gael)
Sally Dunleavy (Fianna Fáil)
Mary Carr (Fianna Fáil)
Letterkenny Urban District Council
1960 Mary Ellen McMenamin (Fianna Fáil)
1967 Sally Blake (Fine Gael)Elected
1974 Catherine Lynch (No Party )
Mary Carr (Fianna Fáil)
1978 May McClintock (Fine Gael) - Co Opted
1979 Anne Wilkinson (Labour)
1979 May McClintock (Fine Gael)- Elected
Ballyshannon Urban District Council
1960 Mary Doherty
Bundoran Urban District Council
1942 Elizabeth Hammond
1974 Belma McManus (Fine Gael)
Ita Gilmartin (Fine Gael)
Buncrana Urban District Council
1974 Brid Bonner (Fianna Fáil)
Ballyshannon Town Commissioners
Other Elections
1974 Mary McGee (Fine Gael)Elected
1979 Mary McGee (Fine Gael)Elected (Chairperson in 1979)
Údarás na Gaeltachta Elections 1979
Una Uí Bherin
1952 Board of Fishery Conservators
Mrs D Boyle, Gortahork
Anne Wilkinson
Donegal Democrat , 1974
Donegal News, 1979
The Future
The UN states, “gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is not just a goal in itself, but a key to sustainable development, economic growth, and peace and security”. We are all entitled to human rights. These include the right to live free from violence and discrimination; to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; to be educated; to own property; to vote; and to earn an equal wage.
It’s too easy to forget the basic rights and protections that we have in Ireland today are not present in every country. Across the globe many women and girls still face discrimination on the basis of sex and gender. Gender inequality underpins many problems which disproportionately affect women and girls, such as domestic and sexual violence, lower pay, lack of access to education, and inadequate healthcare.
Equal representation is central to ensuring just, fair and peaceful societies. As of January 2023, only 36 countries (21%) have a woman Head of State and/or government. Women comprise just 26% of parliamentarians globally and 34% of local government representatives. Women have important roles to play as political decision makers and peacebuilding leaders. Empowered women play a pivotal role in our community and society. In order to achieve gender equality we must all work together - the future is up to all of us.
Help us celebrate our ExtraOrdinary Donegal Women (between 1922 – 1980) by adding their story & image to our County Collection.
Share their Story with us …
Name:
Contact Details:
Their Story:
Or email it to us with an accompanying attached image (no larger than 10mb), to museum@donegalcoco.ie We will then be in contact re permission forms, so ensure contact details are included.
Donegal County Museum, High Road, Letterkenny, Co Donegal T: 074 9124613 E: museum@donegalcoco.ie
This project was funded through the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media’s, Commemorations Programme 2024.
