Diversity, equality and respect for women serving in the armed forces are not terms you’d naturally associate with the historical and important rebellion which took place in our country against British rule, 107 years ago this month.
However, it’s Easter, and I cannot help but be drawn to the important wording printed on my framed copy of Poblacht na hÉireann, our nation’s 1916 proclamation of independence.
This document holds pride of place on my wall; and this week, given the Independent Review Group’s (IRG) report detailing the raft of abuse within the Irish Defence Forces, I can’t help but compare our Proclamation’s ethos with that of the position of women serving in our armed forces today.
My copy of Poblacht na hÉireann, containing the images of its seven signatories – Thomas J Clarke, Sean Mac Diarmada, Thomas MacDonagh, P H Pearse, Eamonn Ceannt, James Connolly and Joseph Plunkett – forms part of my memorabilia from a time when Ireland was committed to freedom and equality for all men and women. How do I know these signatories cherished everyone equally? I only have to read the first three words of this hugely important document, which are ‘Irishmen and Irishwomen’, to understand that those who composed it were not simply forward-thinking soldiers, they were also individuals dedicated to the equality of women.
Not only that, these heroes were likely feminists who believed that we, the women of Ireland, should rightly have the freedom of choice to fight side by side with men (should we wish); as opposed to being forcibly (hypothetically speaking of course), manacled to a kitchen sink with a child hanging off each hip!
Again, how do I know this? Well readers, (and this is just an example of how the leaders of our Rising valued women), of the 220 members of James Connolly’s Irish Citizen Army (a signatory of that Proclamation) who fought in our 1916 Easter Rising, I’m proud to say 27 were women. This historical fact makes it clear to me, that 107 years ago, our ‘army’, i.e. our defence forces, valued Irish women, whereby in contrast, given revelations regarding the ‘bullying and mistreatment of female members’ in the ranks of our present-day forces, women are now being belittled, disparaged and denigrated.
Don’t get me wrong, I have enormous respect for the Irish army, believing that anyone, (whatever their gender), who puts on a uniform and swears allegiance to the Republic of Ireland, its people and its government is, and always will be, a true hero.
However, it seems that despite gaining superiority in our army, the evidence gathered in the IRG’s damning report shows that some of those brave women who served us suffered horrific discrimination purely because of their gender. Indeed, with incidents of rape, sexual harassment and physical assault being experienced by many women of honour within our military, it would seem these warriors, (ignorant chauvinists may view them as being ‘soldiers of the weaker sex’), were evidently deemed too intelligent and hot to handle; therefore squashing and subduing them became widespread.
Well colour me surprised…not! You see readers, back when I was a mere teenager, upon hearing our defence forces had opened its, eh, ranks, allowing women to enlist, believing I’d make a great soldier, I decided to sign up. However, having gone through the application process, etc., I was informed by some high-ranking male officer that, due to my ‘impressive shorthand and typing skills’, I’d make for perfect ‘clerk material’. I looked straight into this smug sexist’s face and told him I was signing up ‘to become a soldier, not someone’s skivvy’. To this day I’m certain that was the main reason I never progressed to the next stage of the selection process! Ah well, their loss! By the way, I mean no disrespect to anyone who works as a ‘clerk’, it’s a noble profession, it just wasn’t why I’d decided to try and enlist.
Despite the toxic masculinity I experienced at that interview and the IRG’s findings showing how female soldiers were ‘barely tolerated’ in our armed forces, it’s obvious that the women of 1916 who fought for our freedom would be sickened.
When I read the potent words of Poblacht na hÉireann, and remember the selfless acts of bravery and martyrdom displayed by those amazing women who gave their lives for our freedom, it’s difficult to come to terms with the disparities between the then Irish Citizen Army of 1916 and today’s Defence Forces.
I don’t know about you ladies, but it seems that 107 years ago, the women of our rebellion were treated with better regard and held in greater esteem than the noble heroines who stand on the frontline today.
I salute every one of our ‘women warriors’ for their selfless acts of bravery. I applaud and commend these ladies for their valour and for their tenacity to not only speak their truth, but to strive to seek the justice they so richly deserve.
My lovely experience dealing with Roscommon County Council
I’ve always believed good service not only means meeting customers’ expectations, it also means being friendly, efficient and delivering a swift and reliable outcome.
Last Friday, the staff, or rather the lovely lady at Roscommon County Council’s motor tax office, delivered on all counts. Let me explain.
Having tried to pay for my car tax online – something I’ve been doing for as long as this service has been available – I found that the ‘verification code’ which the portal normally sends to my phone to allow my banking app to ‘verify’ the payment didn’t materialise. A call to my bank’s customer service rep confirmed that I was not the only person to experience this ‘failure’, and there appeared to be a ‘glitch’ in the system ‘between the motor tax online portal and the bank’. To be specific, the bank informed me that the motor tax office’s online service ‘hasn’t requested the payment’.
Being someone who has OCD about paying bills, I popped into Roscommon County Council’s offices – free parking right outside the building – and went straight to the counter where I was greeted by an efficient lady who processed my annual car tax application, printed my disc and my receipt, and handed me both. The entire process, from parking to printing and sending me on my way took ten minutes; i.e. considerably less time than it took me to get through to my bank’s customer service rep!
While online can of course be quick and convenient, for me, it’s all about accessibility and personal, face to face interaction, and last Friday, the lovely lady at Roscommon County Council’s motor tax counter proved to me why we need to deal with real people instead of faceless, online portals! Go raibh maith agat!
Paul O’Grady RIP: A devoted, iconic, champion of all dogs
I cannot let this week go by without mentioning that wonderful, caring, humane, compassionate gentleman who sadly passed away unexpectedly last week at the age of 67. Mr Paul O’Grady MBE, a comedian and presenter of TV show, ‘For the Love of Dogs’ – who readers may know had roots in Roscommon and Galway – was an amazing ambassador for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.
I had the privilege and the absolute pleasure (many years ago) of inviting Mr O’Grady to be my guest on RTÉ’s The Afternoon Show.
Our series producer at the time wanted me to book Paul as his 1990s’ alter ego, the vivacious Lily Savage. Paul politely and hilariously, in his trademark no-holds-barred manner, declined, explaining how he’d retired the ‘gobby’ blonde bombshell!
As an animal rescuer, I believe that every single beloved and loyal fur baby whose precious life has been saved, and who has devastatingly passed on before us, will be waiting patiently for us to join them at Rainbow Bridge. I have no doubt whatsoever that Paul, the devoted, iconic champion of all dogs will be met by the hundreds of his beautiful canine companions whose lives he so admirably and so humanely saved. May his kind and caring soul rest in peace.
