Nell McCafferty was a uniquely talented writer, human rights campaigner and committed feminist. She rocked the system. Her ground-breaking writings exposed the injustices of Irish society and class and gender discrimination. It is no understatement to say that Nell changed the position of Irish women in society, in the workplace and in the home.
Monday November 18th, sees her friends gather in the Round Room of the Mansion House to celebrate her life, work and legacy with a special evening of songs, readings and recordings of her media appearances over her lifetime.
Hosted by Olivia O’Leary, the gathering sees a collection of friends, fans and peers from across Nell’s life reading excerpts from some of her incredible work. These include activists Eamonn McCann, Bernadette McAliskey, and Ailbhe Smyth, journalists and writers Una Mullally, Evelyn Conlan, her niece Muire McCallion, Martina Devlin, poet Paula Meehan, trailblazer and filmmaker Lelia Doolan, filmmaker Margo Harkin and more. Music will be performed by the incomparable Mary Coughlan.
Lifelong friend and event organiser Marie Redmond said “This is a public celebration of Nell. As well as being an extraordinary talent and activist, in over 50 years of friendship she taught me about being open, honest and forthright and to always speak the truth. Nell has the respect of thousands of people in Ireland and beyond, and I wanted to create an opportunity for us to come together to celebrate the uniquely brilliant talent and person that she was and the impact of her work for the women of Ireland. She was honest, fearless and kind, generous, witty and warm and she changed the very fabric of the Ireland of her time.”
With a career spanning 50 years, Nell’s extraordinary legacy of work includes books such as A Woman to Blame, In the Eyes of the Law, Peggy Deery and Nell an Autobiography.
Her ground-breaking writings on the treatment of those with little resources by the courts exposed the injustices of Irish society and the class discrimination that existed in the Irish legal system. Her dear friend Eamonn McCann described her as ‘an instinctual socialist’.
She was kind and generous to those in need and a loyal friend always. She changed the position of women in the workplace and in the home and fought for equal pay and rights for women. She spoke truth to power, without a thought of the personal consequences.
Nell McCafferty was a trailblazer, a role model and an icon for generations of Irish feminists with a powerful legacy for us to follow.
All are welcome. The event which will be hosted by broadcaster Olivia O’Leary is free but ticketed. The organisers have extended a special thanks to Dublin City Council for supporting this event.
Book Tickets here.
