We hope that you enjoy this narrated virtual tour of 'Women in Politics and Public Life, from 1918 to 2018' - an innovative Pop-up Museum, curated by Dr Sinead McCoole, which explores 100 years of women's participation in Irish politics public service.

An initiative of the Decade of Centenaries in Programme 2012-2023, the pop-up museum illuminates and celebrates the stories over 300 very familiar and less well-known pioneering women, who have contributed significantly to Irish political life and public service since 1918.

The exhibition and this companion virtual tour encourage people of all ages to reflect upon the journey that this country has taken over the past 100 years, as one of the oldest surviving parliamentary democracies in Europe. They make a complex and previously neglected narrative in our shared history, accessible, engaging, meaningful and relevant to people of all ages. Every one of these women contributed to our national story in so many ways, sometimes with little acknowledgement or appreciation within their lifetimes.

To tell this story, the Commemorations Unit of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was generously given unprecedented access to the personal and previously unseen archives of serving, former and deceased elected representatives, public servants and activists. We are very grateful to these women and their families.

We would also like to acknowledge the support of various museums, libraries, national and international archival depositories mention in the credits.

Winner of the 2019 Civil Services Excellence and Innovation Award in the category Excellence in Culture, Values and Diversity, the Pop-Up Museum has nurtured, supported and informed national conversations about equality, mutual respect and the importance of women's participation in public service and political life. Women in Ireland continue to make huge contributions to public service within their communities and in public office, participating in and influencing decision-making processes at the highest levels.

This narrated virtual tour tells only part of the story. To find our more, you can visit the pop-up museum in The Coach House of Dublin Castle from 29th June 2020.