Local events for International Women's Day 2018
To celebrate International Women’s Day in this, the 100th anniversary of the vote for women, Soroptimist Mullingar and District are hosting ‘Mullingar Women Inspiring Women Through The Power Of Their Own Story’ in Bloomfield House Hotel, on Thursday March 8 at 7.30pm.
The evening will start with a champagne reception amidst a selection of pop-up shops.
The ladies will then be treated to a buffet international style three course supper.
As part of the evening Mullingar successful author Patricia Gibney, local woman Geraldine Scally, who despite going blind is living life to the full, and Mairead Loughman, founder of a Table for Six, recently featured on the Late Late show, will all share their own inspirational stories.
Fionnuala Maher, Loreto College, Mullingar, will treat the guests to a presentation of her speech which she will deliver in Ballina on March 10 representing Mullingar in the Soroptimist Public Speaking Competition.
Tickets, at €30, are now on sale on a first come first served basis.
Contact Sheila 086 2437954, Sarah 086 2552720 or Bloomfield House Hotel for further details.
Kilbeggan event
International Women’s Day is coming up on Thursday March 8, and at the SWEETS (South Westmeath Employment Education and Training Services) services in Kilbeggan, are hosting a number of speakers who will address the issues that are facing women today.
International Women’s Day is a worldwide event that celebrates women’s achievements – from the political to the social – while calling for gender equality.
In Kilbeggan, stateswoman and author Mary O’Rourke will be on hand, as well as founder of Kilbeggan Fáilte Isteach and co-author of 65 Kinnegad Lives, Patricia Doyle, who will also be speaking.
Journalist and academic Annette Blackwell, who has worked both in Ireland and Australia, as well as Russian Classical singer Larissa Tormey turned Irish Country singer, are also lined up.
“International Women’s Day can be traced back as far as 1908,” says one of the organisers of the Kilbeggan event, Kitty Flynn.
Ms Flynn has attended many International Women’s Day events, including one also attended by President Michael D Higgins in the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham. “There were a lot of Westmeath women there, and I’ve been to others, in Clonmellon and elsewhere, but this is the first one we’ve hosted in Kilbeggan.
“On the day, the speakers will chose to speak about what concerns them in both the public and private spheres and it is certainly going to be a great day.”
The International Women’s Day events in Kilbeggan get under way at 11am on Thursday March 8 next, at SWEETS, The Crescent, Kilbeggan.
The International Women’s Day 2018 campaign theme is: #PressforProgress.
• internationalwomensday.com