Trailblazing Westmeath native featured on new national stamp

A Westmeath born trailblazing civil servant is one of four women who made an outstanding contribution to Irish public life featured in a new collection of national stamps issued ahead of International Women's Day next Wednesday.

Streete native Thekla Beere (1901-1991) was the first woman to be appointed secretary of a government department and in 1970, chaired the Commission on the Status of Women.

The other three Irish women featured in An Post's latest stamp issue are: Mary Robinson - the first woman President of Ireland; former Cheif Justice of Ireland Susan Denham; and Jennie Wyse Power (1858 – 1941), a founding member and former president of Cumann na mBan, as well as being a long serving senator.

The stamps were designed by Dublin based, Oonagh Young of Design HQ and are based on primary source materials, such as newspapers, academic chronicles and posters relating to the women featured. The national ‘N’ rate stamps issue covers postage on the island of Ireland and are available along with a specially designed First Day Cover from anpost.com/shop and selected post offices.

Speaking at the unveiling of the stamps at the GPO, Mrs Susan Denham, former Chief Justice, said: “I am honoured and delighted to feature on the Women in Public Life stamp issue, honoured on my own behalf and on behalf of the Judiciary, I regard it as a celebration of the inclusion of women in the Judiciary”.

Debbie Byrne, Managing Director, An Post Retail said: “The Women in Public Life stamp series celebrates women who are change makers in their own lifetime. Whether through their service to public life or their determined focus on social justice, the stamps capture the career achievements of these women in living their purpose to improve the lives of others in Ireland and globally.

“With International Women’s Day on 8th March, it’s a great time to send a note or letter to a woman who has inspired us or supported us along the way.”

Issuing ahead of International Women’s Day 2023 the stamps promote greater public awareness of the success achieved by these women within their respective fields. This is the latest in a series of stamps by An Post marking women’s contributions to Irish life, including Irish Women in Sport (2022), Jane, Lady Wilde/Speranza (2021) and Pioneering Irish Women (2020).