By Colette Fitzpatrick
Women are great, aren’t they? We owe them a lot. Some of them literally grow us inside of themselves like adorable little parasites and plenty of them are busy paving the way, fighting for our rights, and being generally badass. Which is more than enough of a reason to celebrate them and today, International Women’s Day, gives us all pause to do just that. If you’re looking to tip your hat to women past, present and future, here are some ways to spend the day and the weekend…
1. Grab a Cocktail in The Liquor Rooms, Dublin 2
The Liquor Rooms, located beneath the Clarence Hotel, is one of my favourite places to get cocktails in the city, not least because of their amazing menu. The cocktails themselves are delicious but, better still, are all inspired by amazing women from throughout Irish history. Beautifully illustrated, the menu has an entry about each cocktail and the woman that inspired it and is an incredible treasure trove of information and names you have probably never heard before. Grab your best girls and spend the evening perusing the menu and raising a glass to celebrate the women discussed inside…
2. Visit the “Fashion & Feminism” Exhibition in the Ulster Museum, Belfast
Up north, the Ulster Museum is playing host to the Feminism & Fashion Exhibition until June so you have plenty of time to drop by but why not prioritise it this weekend? Inspired by the Dior collection from a few seasons ago that opened with the iconic “We Should All Be Feminists” t-shirt, the collection explores feminism in fashion and has pieces such as “an elegant muslin gown from 1800 that would have been met with approval from early feminist campaigner Mary Wollstonecraft”, gowns made by some of the most powerful female designers of the Paris fashion world, including the Callot Sisters, Madeleine Vionnet, Jeanne Paquin and Madame Grès, “modern designer fashion that explores themes of social justice and gender by Dior, Sonia Rykiel and Miuccia Prada” and more.
3. Rent RBG and Do A Screening For Pals
RBG is a documentary about American Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and tells the story of this extraordinary woman and how she has changed the world throughout her career in law and on the bench. It had only a short run in Irish cinemas but can be rented or purchased online, which is a great excuse to host a mini film festival in your home!
4. Attend Viv Albertine at the National Concert Hall in Dublin
Viv Albertine was a guitarist in London punk group The Slits, one of the few female-led groups that existed at the time in the 70s. She forged a path when she had few role models to look to – she had never seen a woman play electric guitar on stage – and continued to do so after the punk movement ended, going on to work in film, write books and more. Reading her talk about her life is extraordinary and utterly scandalous and delightful and I can’t imagine how much better it would be in person! Catch her at the National Concert Hall on Saturday the 9th and Sunday the 10th of March 2019.
5. Shop in Portlaoise’s Tesco and Experience the Women’s Museum of Ireland Pop-up
For one special day only (today!), the Women’s Museum of Ireland is having a special pop-up in the Tesco in Portlaoise so why not do your shop and learn about and celebrate some incredible women while you’re at it? If you can’t make it there, they have uploaded the stories of six women online.
Happy International Women’s Day, y’all 💕🤟
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