Women lead the way in new book launched in City Hall

A new book celebrating the achievements of 12 inspirational women who made significant contributions to local government in Cork city was launched recently in Cork City Hall.

‘Leading the Way’ was written by Dr Aodh Quinlivan, Senior Lecturer, UCC; John Ger O’Riordan, a retired local government official and Anne Twomey, Adult Educator with the Cork Education and Training Board.

Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Fergal Dennehy, officially launched the book last Thursday night and said that the 12 featured women “broke new ground, challenged the status quo, and laid the foundations for others to follow”. He praised the three authors and remarked that Aodh Quinlivan’s record of 11 books in 19 years was an output that few could match.

The book profiles Anna Haslam, Susanne Rouviere Day, Mary MacSwiney, Anne Sutton, Jenny Dowdall, Chrissie Aherne, Deirdre Clune, Catherine Clancy, Mary Shields, Deirdre Forde, Ann Doherty and Valerie O’Sullivan.

Cork City Council Chief Executive Valerie O’Sullivan commented that it was a great honour to be included in the publication and she stressed the importance of public service. Rebecca Loughry, Director of Services – Corporate, Community and Cultural Affairs thanked Cork City Libraries for publishing ‘Leading the Way’ and explained that it would shortly be distributed to schools across the city.

The current chair of the City Council Women’s Caucus, Councillor Ciara O’Connor, outlined the ongoing work of the caucus and stated that the group was delighted to be associated with the book.

The three authors delivered brief speeches, pointing out that from 1900 to 2025 - 125 years - there have only been six women who have served as lord mayor in Cork city. They suggested there is some distance still to travel before a critical mass of women councillors and senior officials is achieved in local government.

Anne Twomey drew the proceedings to a close by quoting Lil Conlon who, in 1969, wrote a book about Cumann na mBan and the women of Ireland in the period from 1913 to 1925. Her words are equally applicable to the women profiled in ‘Leading the Way’.

“Dauntless spirits stepped forth from the cosy shelter of a peaceful and homely existence to tread the path to which Fate beckoned them … there was to be no turning back, they had chosen the thorny way which would ultimately envelop their lives, bringing sorrow and often ill-health in its train. They were the heroines of history, unsung, unrecorded, but nonetheless fulfilling a glorious destiny.”

The six living women featured in the book were present on the night – former lord mayors Deirdre Clune, Catherine Clancy, Mary Shields, and Deirdre Forde, former chief executive of Cork City Council, Ann Doherty, and the current Chief Executive, Valerie O’Sullivan.

The authors hope that ‘Leading the Way’, published by Cork City Libraries, will shortly be available in Cork bookshops.