TÁIN: THE WOMEN'S STORIES BY KARINA TYNAN / 28.11.21

Herstory is thrilled to host the first book launch of Karina Tynan’s extraordinary creation: TÁIN: THE WOMEN’S STORIES.

On Sunday 28th November at 11am (Irish Time / GMT) on Herstory’s Youtube Channel (playback available now), Herstory Founder Melanie Lynch will be in conversation with Karina Tynan who will read some of the retellings and share her creative process of rewriting the great Irish epic TÁIN from the women’s perspective.

TÁIN is the first publication from the legendary Bard Mythologies, founded by Sandy Dunlop and Ellen O’Malley Dunlop in 1995. Clare Island has been the venue of the Bard’s Annual Summer School and Karina Tynan has been a member of the Bard Team for over 25 years.

Thomas Kinsella in his introduction to his translation of The Táin says: “Probably the greatest achievement of the Táin and the Ulster cycle is the series of women, some full scale and some in miniature, on whose strong and diverse personalities the action continually turns: Medb, Derdriu, Macha, Nes, Aife. It may be as goddess-figures, ultimately, that these women have their power; it is certainly they, under all the violence, who remain most real in the memory.” 

Ellen O’Malley Dunlop Director of Bard Mythologies says: “In her book Karina Tynan has brought out all the women in the Táin to their full scale and left none in miniature, in her beautifully crafted, and creative book TÁIN The Women’s Stories. Tynan is not afraid to take on the ‘strong and diverse personalities’ of these mythic women and delve down into their bellies where she explores their power from a new and creative place and shows us the workings of the complex and varied nature of what it is to be a woman.   

Tynan’s daughter Kathy, the acclaimed visual artist, illustrates her mother’s work so beautifully and sensitively that the images, like the stories, remain with you for a very long time after you put down the book.”

Karina cites that unearthing a love of myth and a desire to find their underlying contemporary meanings, came from her participation and association with the Bard Summer School which was a turning point in her life and in her creative career. Since then, inspired by the Irish myths and over 25 years of exploration, she has written back the women’s perspective. The Táin; from the Ulster Cycle is her first collection to be published.

Pre-order the book on Karina’s website and follow her on Instagram.

If you missed the book launch of TÁIN: The Women's Stories by Karina Tynan you can watch the recording now on #Herstory's YouTube Channel.

Wicklow's Wonder Women / 5.11.21 - 6.11.21

Illustration by Lauren O’Neill

As part of the Decade of Centenaries, the Herstory Education Trust and Wicklow Arts & Heritage Offices have joined forces to produce Wicklow's Wonder Women, a fantastic programme of events on the 5th-6th November 2021 to celebrate the centenaries of two local trailblazers. Averil Deverell (1893 – 1979) was the first Irish woman barrister called to the Bar in 1921 and Kate Tyrrell (1862 – 1921) was the first woman ship’s sea captain in Ireland. 

The Wicklow's Wonder Women programme features a spectacular light show, historical talk, experiential Brehon Law Court workshop and fascinating salon event. All events are open to the public and booking is essential, with the exception of the light show which is free.

“Wicklow County Council Arts and Heritage Offices have commissioned these projects to mark women’s history and outstanding achievements as part of our ongoing Decade of Centenaries programme in 2021. Supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 initiative, two trailblazing Wicklow Women take centre stage and we are delighted to work with Herstory to commemorate and celebrate Averil Deverell and Kate Tyrrell in their home county’ said Jenny Sherwin, Arts Officer and Deirdre Burns, Heritage Officer Wicklow County Council

 

Herstory Light Show, Friday 5th November, 5 – 10pm

On 5th November at 5 pm a spectacular Herstory Light Show by Dodeca will see The Cove in Greystones illuminate with newly commissioned portraits of the local legends by artist Lauren O’ Neill. The heroines will be in lights again at 8.30 pm in Arklow Harbour, where Kate Tyrrell navigated her ship ‘The Denbeighshire Lass’ across the Irish Sea. Throughout the weekend, look out for our especially commissioned portraits of both Averil Deverell and Kate Tyrell on billboards in Arklow and Greystones.

 

"Women's achievements and struggles have been lost in the shadows for too long, resulting in global inequality and a regression of women's rights. That's why Herstory is harnessing the alchemical power of light, to celebrate women and equality, spotlight inequality, and create visions for a World of Equals," explains Melanie Lynch, Founder of Herstory

 

Wicklow’s Wonder Women Day Out, Saturday 6th November at 11.30am

On Saturday morning we welcome Dr Sinead McCoole to Arklow Library where she will talk about her research work on the Mná 100 project. She will welcome guest John Mahon, grandson of Kate Tyrrell, who will be in conversation with Sinead about his grandmother, her life and her work.

This is a free event but seating is limited so pre booking is essential. Book your tickets here.

 

Brehon Law Court workshop, Saturday 6th November, 2.00 - 5.00pm

Averil Deverell was Ireland’s first woman barrister and practiced the law throughout her life.  On Saturday 6th November from 2 – 5pm, master storytellers CandleLit Tales will host a Brehon Law Court workshop in the Greystones library. This experiential event will explore contemporary society’s approach to wrongdoing, lawbreaking, and harm to individuals and community. For centuries, Ireland operated without prisons or police, tackling legal issues through the Brehon law – a complex and fascinating legal code that focused on restorative rather than punitive justice. In this workshop, participants will test out the Brehon law by holding their own trial. They will experience the similarities and differences of this approach to our modern legal system, and will have a chance to explore a completely different approach to crime and punishment. They will be guided through some of the principles and processes of Brehon Law and will explore concepts of fair play, justice, and legality through a mock-trial.  Participants will experience the concept of restorative justice in the context of a real legal code that held sway on this island for thousands of years.

Tickets to this event are free, but due to limited seating, booking in advance is essential. Book your tickets here.

Breaking Ground - Celebrating Pioneering WIcklow Women Salon, Saturday 6th November at 8.00pm at the Whale Theatre, Greystones 

On Saturday 6th November at 8.00pm, the Breaking Ground - Celebrating Pioneering Wicklow Women Salon takes place at the Whale Theatre in Greystones. This collaboration with Herstory will interweave lively conversation with performances by visionary local poets and musicians. Poets Jane Clarke and Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill will read new poems inspired by the Wicklow trailblazers, alongside cellist Lioba Petrie and soprano Catherine Redding.

Hosted by journalist and broadcaster Dearbhail McDonald; speakers include historian and retired judge Liz Goldthorpe; Chair of the Bar Council Maura McNally; and lawyer and chair of AkiDwA Ashimedua Okonkwo. Together they will discuss Averil Deverell’s contribution to the law and share stories from their own career history. Also in conversation about women and our connection to the sea will be renowned Irish surfer, marine social scientist, and artist Dr Easkey Britton and Dr. Karen Weekes who is training to become the first Irish woman to row solo across the Atlantic.

Book your tickets here.

Wicklow’s Wonder Women is a timely tribute to two local heroines and we hope that it inspires the public to become curious, research their own family tree and create future opportunities to celebrate more Mná. Book tickets now.

 

Taoist Sexuality and the Feminine / 3.10.21

Join us for a conversation on ‘Taoist Sexuality: Ancient Feminism for Modern Mastery’ with Herstory Founder Melanie Lynch and Máire Ní G this Sunday 3rd October 2021 at 10am (GMT+1) streamed live on Herstory’s Facebook and YouTube. If you missed the event you can watch it on YouTube :

What is Taoism?

Taoism originated in ancient China and can be viewed as a philosophy, a way of living - with no dogma, no gurus, no church. Taoism is unique in that the feminine is integral to it - represented in its mythology, history and core principles like the Mysterious Feminine - representing ultimate emptiness, from which time and space and all creation came. In fact, the Tao itself was said to be feminine or Yin - the Mother of all Beings. Yin is an embodiment of the principles of surrendering, listening, receptivity, intuitive flow. There was a real reverence and respect for the feminine - “softness overcomes hardness’ as written in the Tao Te Ching, a Taoist book of wisdom, the second most translated book in the world after the bible.

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The ancient Taoists were the first sexologists and led the sexual revolution a few thousand years before the sexual liberation movement of the 1960’s. Their observations on the female sexual response was extremely detailed and mirrors the findings of early modern sex researchers like Masters & Johnson and the Kinsey Institute.

In the era of the Tang Dynasty, women played a special role where they could reveal the higher secrets of the Tao - they were holders of the tradition. Women transmitted the teachings of herbs, magic, sex, healing and esoteric practices. Taoist women founded schools like the Highest Clarity School set up by Wei Huanan. Lao Tzu, the great Master who wrote the Tao Te Ching is said to have had a female teacher.

Taoism has a lot to offer our modern world on its very empowering and revolutionary approach to sex. By releasing the ingrained burdens of morality and embracing the power of this health-giving force, one can lead a life of exceptional vitality and robust health.  

Discover more about Taoist Sexuality and the Feminine in this fascinating article Máire Ní G wrote for Herstory.

Who is Máire Ní G?

Máire Ní G is a certified Universal Healing Tao Instructor - teaching Inner Alchemy practices to women all over the world. She runs an online programme called Feminine Sexual Alchemy - the next one starts on October 18th. www.femininesexualalchemy.com

Melting Pot: Herstory's 5th Birthday / 25.05.21

Join us to celebrate Herstory’s 5th Birthday and Africa Day at a fascinating Melting Pot event co-hosted with AkiDwA on the 25th May at 1pm (GMT+1) livestream on Herstory’s YouTube channel. Featuring the awe-inspiring stories of migrant women, musicians, poets, a spectacular light show and the unveiling of the Movement exhibition. Melting Pot gatherings invite people from all cultures to come together to share food, stories, music and our common humanity.

Speakers and performers include:

Salome Mbugua, Founder of AkiDwA

Melanie Lynch, Founder of Herstory

Katelyn Hanna, Project Manager at Herstory

Sr. Lena Deevy, former Director of the RIAN Immigration Center, Boston

Maria & Fadwah + Palestinian speakers, Jerusalem Center for Women

Farah Elle, singer-songwriter

Christiana Obaro, poet

Susan Quirke, musician & meditation teacher

Awakening The Essential Feminine with Maureen Simon / 07.04.21

‘…a Masterclass that will prepare you to live and lead in this new world…’

The world is changing. Have you wondered how you can make a bigger difference to support these changes?

Maureen Simon Masterclass Registration

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 Bio

Maureen Simon blends 25 years of experience in international business consulting and community development, including serving to mediate political conflict in Northern Ireland and Eastern Europe. As an acclaimed consultant, teacher, and speaker conducting keynotes, workshops, and retreats around the world, she bases her work on the strong belief that our world cultures now need, more than ever before, for women to step into their rightful power and leadership roles. Her work supports cultural transformation as it makes a strong business case for the benefits of women leading at the top of organisations. With a focus on women’s empowerment and gender balance, Maureen supports bridging understanding between men and women in organizations, who are ready and eager to create cultures that encourage the development of women leaders. She believes that advanced skill development in the areas of communication, confidence building, and leadership and career development are all essential for women in business to fully contribute.

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Maureen is the author of Awakening the Essential Feminine: Claiming Your Influential Power,  www.maureensimonconsulting.com/the-book and the founder of:  www.EmpoweredWomenConsulting.com and www.MaureenSimonConsulting.com. She has worked with tens of thousands of women worldwide.  She has also served as a founding member of the Global Women’s Leadership Network at Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business in Silicon Valley and has pioneered corporate programmes supporting women worldwide as the central focus of her career and life work. Maureen is a graduate of The State University of New York with a degree in Community Development and advanced studies in Public Policy from the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs at The State University of New York. She is based in Dublin-Ireland, London-England, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

 

www.EmpoweredWomenConsulting.com

www.MaureenSimonConsulting.com

 Book: Awakening The Essential Feminine: Claiming Your Influential Power

Available on Amazon:

http://www.maureensimonconsulting.com/the-book

 

Melanie, Founder of Herstory, recently spoke with Maureen Simon, who provides strategic leadership consultancy specializing in facilitating, supporting and m...

5th Annual Trinity Herstory Salon / 25.03.21

You can listen back to this event through DU History’s podcast here.

DU History and DUGES are proud to present the fifth annual Trinity Herstory!

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Join us for for the 5th annual Trinity College Dublin Herstory Salon at 6pm on 25 March 2021 on Facebook Live: https://fb.me/e/1Bxs6AxJn.

Organised by DU Gender Equality Trinity and DU History, the speakers this year include Melanie Lynch, Founder of Herstory, Professor Lindsey Earner-Byrne, Professor of Irish Gender History in UCC, comedian Blaíthín de Burca, and Dr Nata Duvvury, Director for the Center for Global Women's Studies at the National University of Ireland, Galway. The speakers are invited to share stories of pioneering women, commemorating the important roles many have served throughout history.

This special event will be completely open to the public, we look forward to seeing you there!

2021 Herstory Light Show / 31.01.21 - 01.02.21

Brigid illuminating Kildare Cathedral in 2020

Brigid illuminating Kildare Cathedral in 2020

HERSTORY SPARKS BRIGID’S HEALING LIGHT

Mná na hÉireann reclaim our sovereignty, sexuality and spirituality in the 2021 Herstory Light Show.

To celebrate Brigid’s Day the Herstory Light Show by Dodeca illuminated iconic landmarks across Ireland on Sunday 31st January and Monday 1st February in honour of the Mother & Baby Homes victims; Corona heroines and heroes, Black Lives Matter, Women who have Arrived, and Brigids of the World. The first of February marks the beginning of Spring and the Celtic festival of Imbolc, once honoured as the feast of the goddess.

Galway City Museum, St. Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare; Sean Ross Abbey, Roscrea; Athlone Castle and Belvedere House in Westmeath and Birr Castle in Offaly illuminated to lift Ireland’s spirits and celebrate the return of the light. Click here to view the press release.

MAKING BRIGID’S DAY A NATIONAL HOLIDAY

Herstory is calling on the Irish public and our diaspora to sign the petition to make Brigid’s Day a national holiday and celebrate Ireland’s triple goddess and matron Saint Brigid equally to our world-renowned patron Saint Patrick. 

SPARKING BRIGID’S HEALING LIGHT

From the shadows into the light, iconic landmarks will illuminate in honour of the mothers and children who suffered in the Mother & Baby Homes; featuring portraits of the survivors by Karen Morgan, powerful haiku poems by Laura Murphy, and thought-provoking art from the Stay with Me Show curated by activist Rachael Keogh and journalist Alison O’ Reilly. Filmmaker Peter Martin captures this pilgrimage of light in Solas, a hauntingly beautiful film.


A specially commissioned photographic series entitled Sovereignty was created by photographer Myriam Riand and conceptual artist Áine O’ Brien, reclaiming and reimagining the mother archetype that has been historically dictated and defined by Church and State.

Now Mná na hÉireann are reclaiming our sovereignty, sexuality and spirituality.

The 2021 Herstory Light Show features four more timely themes, with a special tribute to the heroines and heroes of the pandemic: women and men who have battled the virus and the everyday heroes who have played a role in these challenging times including domestic violence services, teachers, farmers, shopkeepers, cleaners, bus-drivers, journalists, nurses, doctors, and more.

Herstory supports Black Lives Matter and gives the platform to the black community to celebrate historic and modern black heroines in Ireland and across the world. This is an opportunity to share your stories, challenges and insights on how we can co-create an inclusive, multi-cultural Ireland together.

The Women who have Arrived theme reimagines the crone archetype for a progressive world, honouring our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers. In pre-Christian Ireland the crone was the most powerful of the three Celtic life archetypes and honoured as the time when a woman came into her true power and sovereignty. In contrast, today women over 50 are almost invisible in popular culture, overshadowed by an irrational fixation on youth and the maiden archetype.

Finally, Brigids of the World spotlights the fact that Brigid was a pan-European goddess long before she was a saint. A unifying force across Europe, she was celebrated from Spain to Turkey. In an open call artists were invited to capture the modern, multi-cultural Brigid in all her fiery glory. What are the issues close to her heart? How would she wield her fire to challenge corruption and injustice? As a master of the arts, what wisdom and insights would she share through her creativity?

You can follow the event on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube with the hashtags #Herstory #BrigidsDay from 6pm on Sunday 31st January until midnight on Monday 1st February.

A heartfelt thanks to the Women’s Fund at the Community Foundation for Ireland for funding this spectacular light show and lifting Ireland's spirits as we celebrate the start of Spring and the return of the light.

Woman and Child / 06.01.21

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Every woman and child deserves to feel safe.

As the Christmas lights were switched off and the crib was packed away for another year, Safe Ireland turned the spotlight on the difficult issue of domestic violence, but more importantly, on what we can do together to make Ireland a safer place for women and children in 2021.

At the centre of our Christmas holiday is a mother and child. As a society, however, we are failing 1000s of women and children who live with coercive control and domestic abuse every day.

Christmas is a highly stressful time for those living with an abuser and new lockdown restrictions add to concerns that women and children may be further entrapped for an extended period of time. Safe Ireland knew from their services that Christmas had already been extremely busy and people were then facing into a January dealing with the impact of the double crisis of the holiday and this new period of strict lockdown.

Here are four simple but powerful things we can do to be more aware about coercive control and domestic abuse.

1. WATCH AND SHARE this powerful, 1 minute film.

Safe Ireland partnered with award winning director Marion Bergin to make Ireland’s first short film ad about coercive control. Watch and share it.

Safe Ireland, the national agency working with domestic violence services, has partnered with award-winning creatives Herstory and Film Director Marion Bergi...

2. KNOW MORE about coercive control.

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Coercive control is a crime. It is a persistent and deliberate pattern of behaviour by an abuser over a prolonged period of time designed to achieve obedience and fear. It does not have to be physical to be domestic abuse. Know the signs. You can download leaflets with more information from Safe Ireland here.

3. DONATE to help Safe Ireland protect more women and children.

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In 2021, we hope to emerge from the pandemic. But, restrictions are again in place and may remain for some time. For most of us, this means staying at home and limiting our social contacts. For women and children living with an abuser, this means the dread and risk of more months of threats, stress, coercion, abuse and violence. Donate through Safe Ireland here.

4. GET HELP and advice.

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If you or someone you care about is living with control and abuse in their home, staff in domestic abuse services across the country are highly trained and experienced. They will hear you and respond to your needs. Get help here.

Lioness by Ellen McDermott

Lioness by Ellen McDermott

OUT OF THE DARKNESS. INTO THE LIGHT.

We believe we have a real chance to change the relentless cycle of violence and abuse this year. Safe Ireland made really significant strides in 2020 in raising public and political consciousness about the dangers for women and children trapped with abusers.

In 2021, we can do even more to transform how we all understand and respond to the scourge of domestic abuse.

CREATIVE SOLUTIONS

Safe Ireland partnered in this campaign with award-winning creatives Herstory and film director Marion Bergin. This was a unique Christmas campaign because it launched on the last day of Christmas, Nollaig na mBán (Women’s Christmas).

The campaign features a powerful new first in Ireland – a 1 minute film advert that depicts the shrinking world of a woman and child living with control and abuse. The darkness of the film is complemented with a standout Herstory light show, illuminating landmark buildings like the GPO and Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin with images that celebrate the diversity, strength, autonomy and resilience of women in Ireland today. The light show features images from the award winning photographer Ellen McDermott, a dynamic new photographic series by photographer Myriam Riand and conceptual artist Áine O’Brien and the powerful new Safe Ireland advert created by Marion Bergin. You can see a selection of the images in the gallery below.

Safe Ireland believes that domestic violence can be prevented and exposed when all sectors of our society are talking about it and addressing it – creatives and artists, corporates and businesses, political and civil society. Then, Ireland will be safer for everyone.

Woman and Child, the campaign has been made possible with funding from The Community Foundation for Ireland and Irish Women in Harmony.