International Women's Day 2022

Madison O Sullivan making a presentation of a piece of art in honour of International Women’s Day. Well done Madison on another fantastic piece of art.

Aoife Godwin Combes and Amy Elphick were the MC’s fro this Gathering. Well done girls on great work.

Strong Women , Kind Women, Inspirational Women– May we raise them, May we know them, May we be them

The month of March has traditionally been dedicated to women. International Women's Day was first celebrated in 1909, and since then, the special event is observed every year ,on March 8 ,across the globe

This day  creates awareness among women to take a stand for themselves and fight against gender discrimination in society. 

Today , we Transition Year students remember influential female  figures in history, both in Irish History and World History, who have become an inspiration for today's generation. However, we will also pay tribute to those inspirational women who live locally, who live here in West Cork, those women who have always mattered in our lives..our mothers , our grannies, our aunts our neighbours,our friends…Today we pay tribute, but today we make the time to say “Thank You”

Above is an excerpt of the opening speech , as delivered by Aoife Godwin Combes and Amy Elphick

Presentations included an Introduction, by Amy Elphick, to the theme chosen for this year’s International Women’s Day . This is Theme is “Break the Bias”.Adiba Akter and Rhiannon Finney gave a very informative presentation on the History of International Women’s Day. Great Women in Sport were also acknowledged by Aoife O Flynn Meade, Anna Meade, Juliette Lawlor and Keri O Donovan.The “Game Girls” from 4.3 also entertained the gathering with a fun performance on “ Guess the Woman”These presentations will be shared with the Junior classes through out the month of March, a month dedicated to Women.

TY students were also presented with a Riddle to solve . The focus of this riddle was gender inequality.

Tribute was also payed by Claire Foyle,to Great Women here in West Cork . These included Marie Mulholland ,West Cork Women Against Violence Project Coordinator, Dee Forbes, RTÉ Director General ( and a past pupil of Sacred Heart Secondary School),Dr Tara Shine,Climate Change Negotiator and Environmental Scientist and Colette Twomey of Clonakilty Food Company. Claire opened her address by saying”As we celebrate International women's day, we don't have to venture far from home to find the many inspirational women who impact our daily lives. All it takes is a look around the room. The women in our schools, in our communities, making a mark.”Claire referred to a recent Southern Star article which highlighted some of the Women of West Cork

The following is an extract from the speech delivered by Claire.

These are women who have defied the odds and broken the boundaries but We must not forget.. that this is only a fraction of the ‘Women of West Cork’ making a mark. If I were to document every woman, my presentation would never end. Although,  Some may not be seen, some may not be heard, their actions don’t go unnoticed. We each have been touched by a woman and this day serves as a reminder of the women around us.

The women who encourage us, influence us and inspire us. 

The women who have created our future.

The role models to each and everyone. 

Happy International Women’s Day 

to every woman ,

to every mother, 

To every sister

To every daughter,

 To every grandmother

To every teacher 

To every wife

To every friend

And To every woman

So look around and in this room full of aspiring women , we can always make a change.

The world is our oyster

Ms Brosnan and Mr Walsh also addressed the Transition Year students , both paying tribute to important and inspirational women in their lives. Ms Brosnan shared stories of her Mother , while Mr Walsh took us on a journey with his Grandmother.

Jane Beechinor and Tea Cronin , along with Transition Year students, paid tribute to great women through costume.More information will be given on this presentation at another time.

Music played during the morning included An Inspirational Video for Women—"We Are Women",-International Women's Day…Fearless,-Song :Women of Strength by Ivanita Oelf and Song:I Am Woman by Emmy Meli.

“Women are leaders everywhere you look—from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women, and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes.” Nancy Pelosi ,American Politician.

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