Roscommon County Council, in partnership with See Her Elected (SHE), is launching a new campaign aimed at encouraging greater female participation and engagement from diverse backgrounds in local government.
The initiative includes a series of in-person information seminars and a school roadshow, designed to demystify politics and highlight the importance of balanced decision-making.
The campaign, which is funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, seeks to empower individuals by increasing awareness of how local government works and how people can become actively involved.
Information seminars
Three information seminars will be held across the county, introducing participants to the workings of local government, the role of county councillors, and how citizens can engage with public participation networks (PPNs) and other committees. The free two-hour sessions will feature interactive discussions, video content, and a Q&A segment.
The first seminar takes place on Wednesday, March 12th in the Council Chamber in Roscommon town at 10 am. A second session will be held in King House, Boyle, on Wednesday, March 26th at 10.30 am, while the final seminar is scheduled for the Athlone Springs Hotel, Monksland, on Tuesday, April 8th at 7.30 pm. A free shuttle bus service will be available for each seminar, subject to demand.
Speaking ahead of the campaign, Darragh Kelly, Communications Manager with Roscommon County Council, said: “As a local authority, we are determined to play our role in supporting women and persons of diverse backgrounds to engage with and familiarise themselves with local government and its structures.”
SHE Communications Manager Mairead O’Shea highlighted the historical underrepresentation of women in local politics.
“There have only been 13 women ever elected to Roscommon County Council since Teresa Gavin of Fianna Fáil was elected in 1928.
“Women’s perspectives and valuable expertise have been largely absent from decision-making over the last 100 years.”
School roadshow
In addition to the public seminars, a school roadshow will take place in four secondary schools across the county throughout March and April.
Targeting students in Transition Year and 5th year Politics and Society classes, the sessions will provide an introduction to local government, highlight the importance of civic engagement, and feature a female councillor discussing her role.
Workshops will include interactive discussions, video content, and anonymous online engagement through Menti.com to encourage student participation.
A follow-up online seminar will be held later in the spring, providing an opportunity for participants to reflect on their learnings and discuss further engagement opportunities.
