Thousands of people gathered in Dublin’s city centre on International Women’s Day to protest against gender-based violence and demand greater government action. The march, part of a series of demonstrations held nationwide, was organized by the ROSA socialist feminist movement and supported by survivors of gender violence, including Hazel Behan, Paula Doyle, and Natasha O’Brien, who took part in leading the Dublin protest.
The rally began with speeches outside City Hall, before protesters marched to the Department of Justice. Ruth Coppinger, a People Before Profit Solidarity TD and key organiser, said survivors of gender violence were demanding a meeting with Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan. This call for a meeting comes after the government did not oppose a private members’ motion put forward by Coppinger last month, which outlined a ten-point plan aimed at addressing gender violence in Ireland.
Protests were also held in Cork, where political party representatives joined the rally, which began at the Grand Parade and proceeded to the Criminal Courts of Justice on Anglesea Street. Organisers are pushing for changes to the rules of evidence in gender-based violence cases, hoping to make it easier for survivors to seek justice.
Mare Claire Jennequin, an organiser in Cork, emphasised that the essence of International Women’s Day is protest and not merely celebration. “It’s about protesting for the real change that we need to see,” she said. She highlighted the theme of this year’s march—the ongoing epidemic of gender-based violence—and the need for immediate action.
Mary Crilly, Chief Executive of the Sexual Violence Centre Cork, also attended the Cork rally and stressed that greater efforts are needed, particularly from men, to eradicate gender-based violence. Crilly pointed out that her centre, which was founded 42 years ago on International Women’s Day, has seen significant progress in terms of how gender-based violence is handled. “One of the big things I have seen changing over the years is that people are being believed,” she said, referring to how survivors of violence are now more likely to be heard and supported.
In Galway, about 150 people gathered at Eyre Square for a similar protest, organized by the University of Galway Feminist Society, ROSA, and the Galway Feminist Collective. Attendees marched to the Spanish Arch and back, wearing red as a show of solidarity with victims and survivors of gender-based violence. The organisers aimed to raise awareness about the daily challenges faced by women due to gender-based violence.
The protests across the country marked a powerful call for action, with survivors and activists urging the government to take immediate steps to combat the gender-based violence epidemic and ensure better support and justice for those affected.
