Votes for Women

On this day – 100 years ago – the Representation of the People Act 1918 was passed, giving the parliamentary vote to women aged at least 30 who had property or a university education (and to all men over the age of 21).

Irish Women over the age of 21 obtained the vote when the Constitution of the Irish Free State Act came into effect in 1922.

The Irish Government is celebrating this event with the #Vótáil100 Programme, which is a series of events taking place around the country discussing women’s suffrage.

As always, I feel hugely indebted to my ancestors who fought so hard and endured great hardship to gain the vote for women. I enjoy many freedoms because they fought for it. But this victory was the middle of a long series of hard battles, which continue to this day.

My thanks to those who have fought, and continue to fight, for the equal rights of all people.