Irish Women’s History Project
The creation of the Department of Taoiseach database was a key initiative within the Irish Women’s History Project (1997-2001).
It aimed to document women’s roles and experiences in Ireland from 1922 to 1966. This database emerged from a comprehensive survey conducted by the project, which meticulously examined records from the Department of the Taoiseach for references to women.
Department of the Taoiseach’s database
Legislation and discussions on issues impacting women are prevalent in our departmental records. The Department of the Taoiseach’s collection includes significant materials on topics deliberated in cabinet and government meetings, encompassing a wide range of political and administrative issues.
The records in the Department of Taoiseach database mention several notable women who played significant roles in Irish society.
Typing in a name the database will return the results and give an expanded description of the contents of the files
Here are a few examples:
Kathleen Lynn: a doctor, suffragist, and revolutionary, known for her role in the Easter Rising and women’s rights advocacy. In 1919, she founded Saint Ultan’s Children’s Hospital.
TSCH/S /1369/10: Civil War Prisoners, 1923
Louie Bennett: A suffragist, trade unionist, and pacifist. She co‐founded the Irish Women’s Suffrage Federation in 1911.
TSCH/S/ 5553A: Committee on Unemployment, 1927
TSCH/S/9880: Women, Position under Constitution, 1937
Hilda Tweedy: A founding member of the Irish Housewives Association, she was instrumental in advocating for women’s rights and social issues.
TSCH/S/16952A: International Alliance of Women, Congress, Dublin, 1961
These women, among many others, are documented in the Department of Taoiseach records, this database showcases their contributions to social and political change and the advancement of women’s rights in Ireland.