As we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement in 2023, the Herstory Education Trust partnered with the National Museums NI and the Republic of Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund to create the Peace Heroines education programme, featuring a touring exhibition and interactive online exhibition, with stunning new portraits of the peace heroines by the artist FRIZ, and inter-generational workshops exploring power.
Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan on the first meeting of The Peace People in Andersonstown, Belfast. 14th August 1976. Alain Le Garsmeur "The Troubles" Archive / Alamy Stock Photo
Since the 19th century, women in Northern Ireland have been building bridges by setting aside religious and political affiliations to work together to assert their civil rights and challenge laws that restricted their freedoms; issues regarding women’s education, married women’s property rights and voting rights. From local to national, this cooperative characteristic of the women’s movements continued into the 20th century with suffragism, trade unionism and eventually, the peace movement of the 1960s on.
“‘Peace can never come through violence. You need a superior idea in your head and love in your heart.’ ”
Anne Carr, by FRIZ - one of nine specially commissioned portraits for the Peace Heroines exhibition
Women from all walks of life played a pivotal role in the Northern Ireland peace process and continue cross-community dialogue and reconciliation projects today. Ordinary women with extraordinary courage, they faced daily threats to their lives and the lives of their families. Many overcame struggles with poverty, poor education, and personal tragedy to work together for peace. They did everything from supporting victims of sectarian violence to lobbying politicians, founding integrated education, starting cross-community projects, organising mass peace marches, and inspiring women to participate in political and public life.
““The story of the Women’s Coalition is largely not visible, not because women get written out of history..... they never get written in” ”
A group of school children and peace campaigners along with members of the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition release a flock of pigeons outside the Parliament Buildings in Belfast, where the newly-appointed power-sharing executive was meeting for the first time. By Niall Carson
The project was sparked by a timely conversation at the United Nations back in 2019. Herstory CEO & project curator Melanie Lynch explains: “When I met with Ireland's Ambassador to the UN Geraldine Nason-Byrne she explained to me that the role of women in the Northern Ireland Peace Process is a key United Nations case study. I reached out to our school contacts and they confirmed that this essential story is not taught on the official school curriculum in Northern Ireland or the Republic. Our new Peace Heroines project aims to change that and introduce students and the public to these legendary activists and inspire the next generation of peace builders. It’s time to write herstory into history.”
Peace Heroines made the national news headlines
From the Congo to Columbia, international peace delegations learn about the impact that Northern Irish women made to what is widely considered to be one of the most successful peace processes in the world. As we mark the 25th Anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, this exhibition is an introduction to the women who worked for peace.
““When you taste peace and you have the prize of peace, there is no going back.””
From grassroots to government levels, the exhibition captures a diversity of voices and perspectives, featuring 30 women’s stories including Monica McWilliams and Pearl Sagar, Linda Ervine MBE, Pat Hume, Baroness May Blood MBE, Mo Mowlam and Saidie Patterson. Powerful partnerships are explored such as Peace People, NI Women’s Coalition, Women Together, Derry Peace Women and the special dynamic between Shankill and Falls Women’s Centres through the leadership of Eileen Weir and Susan McCrory.
““The Women’s Coalition in particular focused on reaching an agreement as opposed to focusing on ‘can I get this for my community, can I get that...’ They understood their role to be to help to bring about peace more than just advancing the cause of one community or another.””
Peace Heroines was launched by Dr. Patricia O’Lynn MLA at the Northern Ireland Assembly, Stormont on the 21st September 2022, the International Day of Peace.
Peace Heroines visits the Áras
On 29 March 2023, President Michael D. Higgins hosted the Peace Heroines exhibition in Áras an Uachtaráin to honour the women’s contribution to peace and to mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.
Watch the President’s impassioned speech below.
HERSTORY NEEDS YOU
As we mark the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, we hope the Peace Heroines project inspires and empowers you to take an active role in your family and community, in healing the past and co-creating lasting peace and equality for everyone.
This exhibition represents a part of the story and some of the women who helped to create the peace we enjoy today. It’s only the beginning and we want to share more stories. What voices do we need to hear? Who’s story is missing? You can create a project to celebrate your local peace heroines. We also invite you to send her story by email: peaceheroines@gmail.com
The exhibition is touring across the island of Ireland and internationally - click here to see the tour schedule and explore the interactive online exhibition with supporting lesson plans for schools.
Peace Heroines is a Herstory Education Trust project created in collaboration with our partners
