WICKLOW’S WONDER WOMEN

As part of the Decade of Centenaries, Wicklow County Council’s Arts and Heritage Offices and the Archives Service have joined forces with the Herstory Education Trust and curator Liz Kelly to produce Wicklow's Wonder Women, a fantastic programme of events to celebrate the centenaries of two local trailblazers. Averil Deverell (1893 – 1979) was the first Irish woman barrister called to the Bar in 1921 and Kate Tyrrell (1862 – 1921) was the first woman ship’s sea captain in Ireland. 

At the time, only men were allowed to be employed in these roles. Both women smashed the glass ceiling to rewrite the gender rulebooks for their professions, leading the way for future generations of female lawyers and seafarers.

It was forbidden for women to captain a ship but that didn’t stop Kate Tyrrell from registering her captaincy in the name of a man in order to sail. Tyrrell spent most of her time captaining the Denbighshire Lass from her base in Arklow, becoming adept at navigation and passionate about all aspects of sailing. She had a reputation for being a stern enforcer of order on board her ship, intolerant of any drunken crew members on duty.  The Denbighshire Lass continued to sail throughout World War I, navigating landmines in the Irish Sea without incident, despite having no insurance. Kate’s was the first ship to fly the new Irish tricolour flag at a foreign port. 

Averil Deverell was involved in Irish Law at the foundation of the judiciary and court structures in Ireland.  Graduating with a law degree from Trinity College Dublin in 1915, in the middle of World War I, she served as a VAD Nursing Sister at Trinity and in her home town of Greystones, Co. Wicklow. Eventually, after clocking hundreds of hours of service in Ireland, she persuaded the authorities to allow her into France as an ambulance driver. In 1918, Averil served in France and Flanders with the French Red Cross, returning home to a community devastated by loss. Well aware that the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 was heading for the statute book, she opted to train as a barrister and entered the King’s Inns, Dublin in January 1919.  In November 1921, Averil was duly called to the Bar in Dublin with Frances Christian Kyle from Belfast, the first two women to be admitted. Frances returned to Belfast, Ireland was partitioned and Averil entered the closed, male, confines of the Law Library at the Four Courts in January 1922, becoming the first practicing woman barrister in Ireland.

The Wicklow's Wonder Women programme features a spectacular light show, historical talk, experiential Brehon Law Court workshop and fascinating salon event. All events are open to the public and booking is essential, with the exception of the light show which is free.

Herstory Light Show, Friday 5th November, 5 – 10pm

On 5th November at 5 pm a spectacular Herstory Light Show by Dodeca will see The Cove in Greystones illuminate with newly commissioned portraits of the local legends by artist Lauren O’ Neill. The heroines will be in lights again at 8.30 pm in Arklow Harbour, where Kate Tyrrell navigated her ship ‘The Denbeighshire Lass’ across the Irish Sea. Throughout the weekend, look out for our especially commissioned portraits of both Averil Deverell and Kate Tyrrell on billboards in Arklow and Greystones.

"Women's achievements and struggles have been lost in the shadows for too long, resulting in global inequality and a regression of women's rights. That's why Herstory is harnessing the alchemical power of light, to celebrate women and equality, spotlight inequality, and create visions for a World of Equals," explains Melanie Lynch, Founder of Herstory

Wicklow’s Wonder Women Day Out, Saturday 6th November at 11.30am

On Saturday morning we welcome Dr Sinead McCoole to Arklow Library where she will talk about her research work on the Mná 100 project. She will welcome guest John Mahon, grandson of Kate Tyrrell, who will be in conversation with Sinead about his grandmother, her life and her work.

This is a free event but seating is limited so pre booking is essential.

Brehon Law Court workshop, Saturday 6th November, 2.00 - 5.00pm

Averil Deverell was Ireland’s first woman barrister and practiced the law throughout her life. On Saturday 6th November from 2 – 5pm, master storytellers CandleLit Tales will host a Brehon Law Court workshop in the Greystones library. This experiential event will explore contemporary society’s approach to wrongdoing, lawbreaking, and harm to individuals and community. For centuries, Ireland operated without prisons or police, tackling legal issues through the Brehon law – a complex and fascinating legal code that focused on restorative rather than punitive justice. In this workshop, participants will test out the Brehon law by holding their own trial. They will experience the similarities and differences of this approach to our modern legal system, and will have a chance to explore a completely different approach to crime and punishment. They will be guided through some of the principles and processes of Brehon Law and will explore concepts of fair play, justice, and legality through a mock-trial.  Participants will experience the concept of restorative justice in the context of a real legal code that held sway on this island for thousands of years.

Tickets for this event are free, but due to limited seating, booking in advance is essential.

The Breaking Ground Salon, Saturday 6th November at 8.00pm at the Whale Theatre, Greystones. Book tickets

On Saturday 6th November at 8.00p.m, we celebrate Wicklow’s Wonder Women with The Breaking Ground: Wicklow’s Pioneering Women Salon  which takes place at the Whale Theatre in Greystones. This collaboration with Herstory will interweave lively conversation with performances by visionary local poets and musicians. Poets Jane Clarke and Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill will read new poems inspired by the Wicklow trailblazers, alongside cellist Lioba Petrie and soprano Catherine Redding.

Hosted by journalist and broadcaster Dearbhail McDonald; speakers include historian and retired judge Liz Goldthorpe; Chair of the Bar Council Maura McNally; and lawyer and chair of AkiDwA Ashimedua Okonkwo. Together they will discuss Averil Deverell’s contribution to the law and share stories from their own career history. Also in conversation about women and our connection to the sea will be renowned Irish surfer, marine social scientist, and artist Dr Easkey Britton and Dr. Karen Weekes who is training to become the first Irish woman to row solo across the Atlantic.

Wicklow’s Wonder Women is a timely tribute to two local heroines and we hope that it inspires the public to become curious, research their own family tree and create future opportunities to celebrate more Mná.

“Wicklow County Council Arts and Heritage Offices and Archive Service have commissioned these projects to mark women’s history and outstanding achievements as part of our ongoing Decade of Centenaries Programme in 2021. Supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 initiative, two trailblazing Wicklow Women take centre stage and we are delighted to work with Liz Kelly Curator, and Herstory to commemorate and celebrate Averil Deverell and Kate Tyrrell in their home county’ said Jenny Sherwin, Arts Officer and Deirdre Burns, Heritage Officer Wicklow County Council