“Seeking Peace” – a new episode in the Mná 100 podcast series – in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs

Minister Catherine Martin T.D. announces today a new episode in the Mná 100 podcast series

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin T.D. has launched the fourth episode in the Mná 100 podcast series, titled ‘Seeking Peace’, as part of the Decade of Centenaries Programme 2012-2023.

Minister Martin said:

“The ‘Seeking Peace’ episode in the Mná100 centenary podcast series, gives us a really important understanding of the peace delegations led by women in 1922 trying to prevent Civil War. Many of these women were part of the international peace movement at that time. The podcast gives us a unique insight into those challenging months. Mary Robinson, Maria Butler and Áine Hearns are all Irish women who have worked internationally, whose interesting life stories will resonate with the historic women of a century ago.”

This podcast examines events of 100 years ago and women’s participation in seeking peace – from chairing the Peace Committee meetings in May to delegations organised in June and July 1922 as hostilities in the Civil War escalated. It explores the historic background to those delegations, profiling some of the participants. Maud Gonne MacBride organised delegations.  Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, Charlotte Despard and Rosamond Jacob of the Irishwomen’s International League participated.  It also explores the League’s links to the wider peace movement of that time, such as the role of Jane Addams and the organisation of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.

By looking at these historic events through a wider lens, Mná 100 also reflects on some of the achievements and personal experiences of the podcast participants. The podcast features three women; the first female President of Ireland and Chair of The Elders, Mary Robinson (pictured above) ; Áine Hearns, Director of the Conflict Resolution Unit at the Department of Foreign Affairs; and Maria Butler, Deputy Secretary General of the Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom, who in May 2022 has just been appointed as Executive Director of the Nobel Women’s Initiative.

Available *here*

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