Women’ (Darcy); ‘For Men and Women Equally
Since Markiecviz’s election a century ago, only 67
The Rights of Citizenship; For Men and Women
women have been elected and the 2016 election
Equally the Duties of Citizenship’ (Plunkett); and
resulted in the highest ever proportion of female
‘Trust Dignity Compassion Healthcare Choice
representatives at only 22%. The National Gallery
Women’ (Murphy), through their inclusion in the
of Ireland’s Votáil 100 exhibition, Markiewicz:
exhibition these allude to the continuing relevance
Portraits and Propaganda (October 2018 – February
of historical rallying cries. The exhibition
2019), curated by Donal Maguire, included
concludes with its own ballot box where, using a
paintings, photography and caricatures. Reflecting
ballot paper that changes each week, visitors are
this leading figure of the Irish revolution, and
invited to vote on current constitutional issues;
drawn from both National Gallery collections and
one for example concerns whether gender quotas
those of The Hugh Lane Gallery, National Library
should be introduced in Irish elections.
of Ireland and National Museum of Ireland, the exhibition included works by Markiewicz’ friend
The National Museum of Ireland exhibition, Votes
Sarah Purser, and an especially poignant painting
for Women: Suffrage and Citizenship (July – December
of Markievicz on her deathbed by her husband,
2018) curated by Sandra Heise, was held in an
Casimir Dunin Markievicz. Markiewicz’ application
ante-room to the Ceramics Room in its Kildare
of her artistic training, to visually represent
Street building. This location was especially
herself as a mode of political expression, was
significant because due to repair works to Leinster
particularly evident in photographs depicting
House next door, that room was functioning at
her dressed as Joan of Arc and in Celtic Revival
the time as the Seanad chamber. Objects that
costume. By contrast, in her small caricatures, her
Senators as a result had particular opportunity
wit and humour were clear: through these, the
to experience, included a large, fringed banner in
exhibition transcended the trope of Markiewicz as
green and burnt orange. Bearing the words ‘Irish
a revolutionary leader, to depict her as a person of
Women’s Franchise League’ in Celtic Revival
visual sensibility.4
print, this visually differentiates the Irish from the British movement. A League lectern-stand was
2018 saw a range of other important exhibitions,
a symbolic centrepiece, its sturdiness hinting at
each themed according to the functions of its
rousing speeches delivered by forthright women
delivery body. The National Photographic Archive
and its portability denoting that this was a nation-
concentrated on the normalisation of the women’s
wide campaign.
vote in From Bullets to Ballot Papers; Dublin Castle delivered on its constitutional role in Women
Another notable object from the National
in Politics and Public Life; the Little Museum of
Museum’s collection was the Irish Women’s
Dublin concentrated on the social history of
Franchise League ‘Votes for Women’ badge
women’s work including through contemporary
(the original of which is displayed in NMI’s
photography by Beta Bajgartova in What’s She
ongoing exhibition Proclaiming a Republic: The
Doing Here; and EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
1916 Rising). Taken after his death in 1916 from
approached the subject through the theme of
the coat of Francis Sheehy-Skeffington, Rising
diaspora in Blazing a Trail. Further developments
activist and husband of the suffragette and Irish
are now hinting at the success of 2018 in
nationalist, Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington, the
increasing the representation of women in public
badge has provided a distinctive signifier for the
life. At the National Museum of Ireland’s Museum
2018 commemorations. With copies available for
of Country Life for example, Electric Irish Homes
visitors to the exhibition at Kildare Street and
is examining the impact on women’s lives of
other ‘Votáil 100’ events, the popularity of the
rural electrification. In A Modern Eye, the National
replica badge indicates public hunger for women’s
Photographic Archive and Gallery of Photography
history, and has been a useful gauge of perceptions
Ireland are jointly displaying the work of the
that gender inequality remains relevant
photographer, Helen Hooker O’Malley.
today. Through reference to the lack of female representation in the 2018 Dáil, the NMI exhibition
In conclusion, the work of the Votáil 100
hinted at contemporary parallels.
Committee and the cultural institutions that its members represented, have done much to
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