SIPTU will commemorate Lá na mBan/Women’s Day 1918 at an event at the Mansion House, Dublin 2, this Saturday, 9th June, from 12.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m. The commemoration will be staged on a 19th Century tram and involve recitals and performances by Sabina Higgins and Micheline Sheehy Skeffington. The event will also include speeches by prominent trade unionists including Irish Congress of Trade Unions General Secretary (ICTU) Patricia King and ICTU President Sheila Nunan and speeches by prominent women’s rights campaigners such as National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) Director, Orla O’Connor and Union of Students of Ireland (USI) President Elect, Siona Cahill. SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Ethel Buckley, who will MC the proceedings, said: “This unique family friendly pageant-style event is open to the public and free of charge. It brings together leading campaigners and activists for women's and workers’ rights. Each of our speakers and performers has made a massive contribution in continuing the work of the women of 1918 by building towards an Ireland that is a more equal place for women to live and work.” She added: "The soapbox style speeches that will form part of this event will be reminiscent of the early trade union and suffragette movement who made their voices heard a hundred years ago as they campaigned for decent work, the right to vote and against conscription. On Saturday, we will honour and continue that proud tradition.” As part of the commemorations, a Lá na mBan-themed banner was erected on Liberty Hall last Tuesday (5th June) as a tribute to the Irish women who mobilised against the enforced conscription of Irish men into the British Army.
SIPTU to host Lá na mBan/Women’s Day 1918 commemorative event this Saturday
