2017 HERSTORY LIGHT FESTIVAL

ILLUMINATE HERSTORY 2017

IRELAND CALLS ON HER SISTERS WORLDWIDE TO EMERGE FROM THE SHADOWS INTO THE LIGHT

Illuminate Herstory is Ireland's new annual light festival celebrating women and girls. When the Christmas lights went out over the weekend of Nollaig na mBan (Women's Little Christmas) on the 5 - 8th January 2017, we illuminated the country with images of women. In the inaugural year, 16 counties / half the island of Ireland participated, lighting up castles, museums, libraries, theatres, offices and homes. From the shadows into the light, we shared women’s stories from our families, communities, tales of lost national heroines and women who we admire around the world. 

Click here for a list of Illuminate Herstory events NATIONWIDE.

ILLUMINATE HERSTORY 2018

Big plans are already underway for next year. Our objective is to start a new annual festival where Ireland inspires the world to celebrate women, just like the global greening on St. Patrick’s Day.

  Illuminate Herstory is for everyone

Every classroom and boardroom have projectors, every home is full of wonderful family photographs, and the national archives have incredible images of women. Whether you are a community group or a national organisation, everyone can get involved by organising an event. You can programme storytellers, performers and herstorians or keep it simple and host an intimate gathering of friends and family. Click here for ideas on how you can Illuminate at home.

          AN INVITATION TO THE WORLD

Illuminate Herstory doesn't stop in Ireland. In 2018 we will be extending the invitation to the world to join us. You can spread the word to family and friends abroad and create an online illumination like Skype's Impossible Family Portrait project.

TO SPONSOR A 2018 LANDMARK LIGHT INSTALLATION PLEASE CONTACT MELANIE: melanie.herstory@gmail.com

For press enquiries please contact Elevate PR: +353 1 662 5652

Herstory Salon @ THE IRISH TIMES / Culture Night 2016

The first Herstory Salon was the official Irish Times Culture Night event, produced in partnership with the award-winning Irish Times Women's Podcast. Our panel included Irish Times columnist and playwright Hillary Fannin, history lecturer Dr Jennifer Redmond and Professor Linda Doyle of Trinity College Dublin. They discussed the significance of salons for women throughout history, the thrill of rediscovering lost stories of women and the importance of women engaging in the latest technological developments including the Internet of Things. Presented by Kathy Sheridan there is music from MayKay of Fight Like Apes (Kathy's daughter!) plus eloquent exchanges of views on everything from iconic female musicians to #WakingTheFeminists.

Click here to listen to the salon on the IT Women's Podcast - it's Episode 56.

There will be more Herstory Salons in 2017. Watch this space!

HERSTORYTELLING #1 / CULTURE NIGHT 2016

The first Herstorytelling session was listed #4 in The Irish Independent from 3000 Culture Night events nationwide. TG4 filmed the event for The Roisin Show.

Herstory presented a magical night of storytelling, comedy, theatre, dance and music in celebration of Ireland’s extraordinary women at The Liquor Rooms on Culture Night, Friday 16th September from 8 - 12pm.

15 performers and speakers included Amy De Bhrún, Alison Spittle, Siofra O' Meara, Eve Darcy, Sinead Gleeson, Aideen McQueen, Eleanor Fitzsimons, Andre K'Por, Yvonne Usher, Genevieve Healy, Ashley Tubridy, Fiona Lowe, Sisters of the Rising, Dr. Anne Rosenbusch, Treasa Kerrigan and Dr. Jennifer Redmond. The Goddess Club hosted ‘Crazy in Love’ burlesque dance classes on the hour, every hour. 

To toast the bravery of Ireland’s remarkable women adventurers and explorers, The Liquor Rooms' mixologist made special cocktails in their honour, and An Olivia Chocolate captured the women’s characters in signature liquor chocolates to tempt the most discerning chocolate lover.

The event was attended by 910 people over the course of the night with a constant queue down the quays. Herstorian Sinead Mc Coole attended and she said she has never seen such a young audience so engaged with women's history.

HERSTORY LAUNCH / 25TH MAY 2016

HERSTORY LAUNCH / 25TH MAY 2016

To celebrate the launch of the Herstory movement we hosted a special event in The Pillar Room, Rotunda Hospital, where Countess Markievicz lay in State. A mélange of performances, speeches and surprises featured Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, Maria Fleming from WakingTheFeminists, Dr. Jennifer Redmond, Tara Flynn, Patrick Carton, Amy De Bhrún, John Ennis, Landless and the Smock Alley Theatre collective.

Thanks to Verona Photography for the fabulous snaps. And here's a video of the event.