The Women's Museum of Ireland is asking the public to help put women on the map of Dublin.
By creating a city map drawing attention to sites related to women's history, the Women's Museum of Ireland, set up by graduates of Trinity and University College Dublin, hopes to get the sites of interest preserved, recognised - and visited.
"The Rosie Hackett Bridge campaign was a great thing to watch, but something that should have been embraced more quickly," said Jeanne Sutton, co-founder of the museum.
“A woman trade unionist with involvement in the 1913 Lockout and the Rising . . . honouring women like that should be a no-brainer.”
According to Ms Sutton, there are still a great many stories to be uncovered.
Celebrity
“What about Peg Plunkett, who owned a brothel near the
Westbury Hotel
, and was a bit of a celebrity, back in the day? People have forgotten about her,” Ms Sutton said.
Plunkett lived in Dublin from 1727 to 1797.
“The goal of the map is to celebrate women who have made history in the city, and also to learn more about women’s role in Dublin,” she said.
“We’re hoping people will share stories we haven’t heard before and, already, we’re hearing about the first women’s schools in the city. Then, in a few weeks, when we have all our ‘sources’, we’ll be able to choose which ones to include on the map.”
There are plans to extend the project around the country, she said. “There’s a hunger for women’s stories out there and hopefully this map taps into that enthusiasm,” said Ms Sutton.
Google is working with activists on an app called Women on the Map that alerts users, in 28 cities, when they pass a place where a woman made history.
Aimed at 13- to 22-year-olds, it aims “to address the lack of recognition and honours for women”.
The Dublin women’s history map will be printed and available to all who wish to use it to discover women’s stories.
‘Surprise us’
The Women’s Museum of Ireland wants people to tell them who they think should be included in the map.
“Surprise us. You might know women who should be on it,” Ms Sutton said.
“I’d love if other cities followed us on this. I’d love to see a London and Paris map, and maybe when we’re done mapping Dublin we can move on to another Irish city, and then start a countrywide map,” she said.
People should email the Women's Museum of Ireland at info@womensmuseumofireland.ie or contact them via Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #WomenofDublin with suggestions and information about women to include.
