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These stories highlight the diverse ways that members of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA), the Soroptimists International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI), the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) and the Federation of Women’s Institutes of Northern Ireland (WINI) contributed to enhancing the lives of women and girls locally, nationally and globally. 

Women’s Grassroots Activism Podcast Series

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The podcast series is funded by the United Kingdom Research Innovation (UKRI) Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) as part of the grant awarded for Agency and Advocacy: Locating Women’s Grassroots Activism in England and Ireland, 1918 to the present (Project Reference: AH/X008606/1, August 2023 -January 2025).

This podcast series tells stories of women’s grassroots activism across the island of Ireland and in England from 1918 to the present. These stories highlight the diverse ways that members of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA), the Soroptimists International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI), the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) and the Federation of Women’s Institutes of Northern Ireland (WINI) contributed to enhancing the lives of women and girls locally, nationally and globally.  

The podcast series is funded by the United Kingdom Research Innovation (UKRI) Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) as part of the grant awarded for Agency and Advocacy: Locating Women’s Grassroots Activism in England and Ireland, 1918 to the present (Project Reference: AH/X008606/1, August 2023 -January 2025). 

Recording episode 1 of AHRC Women's Grassroots Activism Podcast Series at An Grianán
Recording episode 2 of AHRC Women's Grassroots Activism Podcast Series at An Grianán
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Our research team is made up of Principal Investigator Professor Caitríona Beaumont (London South Bank University and Visiting Full Professor at University College Dublin), Co-Investigator is Dr Anne Logan (University of Kent), Dr Ruth Davidson (Institute of Historical Research, University of London), Dr Anna Muggeridge (University of Worcester) and Rachel Collett (University of Liverpool). Our podcast series is supported by our participating women’s organisations the ICA, SIGBI, NFWI and WINI.  

Episode 1

Women’s Grassroots Activism: the ICA’s long history of activism

Our first episode with Prof Caitríona Beaumont, Mary D’Arcy, President of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA), Breda Cahill, ICA Wexford Federation President and Deirdre Connery, member of Duncannon, Co. Wexford ICA guild, was recorded at An Grianán, Co. Louth. The ICA’s An Grianán is Ireland’s first residential adult education college and opened in 1954. In this episode we chat about the history of the ICA and its activities over the past 100 years to learn more about the contribution of this national women’s organisation to Irish history, Irish society and to the everyday lives of women in Ireland.  

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Episode 2

Women’s Grassroots Activism: cross-borders solidarity in Ireland, Northern Ireland and England and Wales

In this episode with Prof Caitríona Beaumont, Margaret Broome, former chair of the Federation of Women’s Institutes of Northern Ireland (WINI), June Lawless, National Secretary of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) and Dr Anne Logan (University of Kent and Women’s Institute member) chat about what membership of a women’s organisation means to them. We also discuss the history of co-operation and friendship between the ICA, WINI and the NFWI since 1918 that illuminates new understandings of Anglo-Irish relations in the twentieth century.

Listen on Apple | Spotify | Soundcloud

Episode 3

Women’s Grassroots Activism: SIGBI campaigns and educational work against gender-based violence

In this episode, Dr Ruth Davidson, Caroline Auckland, former President of the Tunbridge Wells and District Soroptimists Club, Kent, and Eadaoin Lawlor, national past President of Soroptimists Republic of Ireland discuss how Soroptimists have campaigned to end Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). We consider the ways this work is achieved through advocacy and campaigns around policy and education at local, national and global levels. We also discuss campaigns including the ‘Safe Home Safe Community Project’ and how SIGBI supports the United Nations ‘Orange the World’ campaign, launched in 2008 to end violence against women and girls.

Listen on Apple | Spotify | Soundcloud

Episode 4

Women’s Grassroots Activism: stories of environmental activism

In this episode, Dr Anne Logan, Chrissie Booth, Vice-Chair of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI), and Lorna Blackmore, past regional President of the Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) Southeast Region, discuss the myriad ways in which women’s organisations have campaigned, and continue to campaign, to protect and improve the natural environment. Topics we discuss include the formation of the iconic ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ campaign by the NFWI in 1954 and the current NFWI campaign for ‘clean rivers for people and wildlife’. We also discuss SIGBI support for ‘toilet twinning’ and for solar-powered cooking devices to reduce deforestation and hopes for a future less dependent upon single-use plastic items.

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Episode 5

Women’s Grassroots Activism: Crafting and Craftivism

In this final episode, Dr Anna Muggeridge, Deirdre Connery of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) and Joan Houston of Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI), Northern Irish Federation, discuss crafting and ‘craftivism’ in the ICA and SIGBI. We consider the importance of crafting to women historically and today; how these organisations have promoted and celebrated women’s craft skills, and importantly the ways in which ‘craftivism’ has been used by women’s organisations to raise awareness of complex and challenging issues and to engage in activism.

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