Stories of Women During The Troubles
by: Kara, Thy, Irene (TKI Coalition) 
 

In our dialogue of civilization,  we saw the significance of truth and attending to multiple narratives as everyone has their own stories. The importance of narratives is especially true during the Troubles, a time that remains dark and contentious in Irish history, where many individuals' truths are buried and unacknowledged. Women, in particular, are excluded from the conversation, forgetting that they also played active roles during the conflict. Because they were generally associated with positions of caregiving: nurses, wives, and mothers, they were often sidelined and overlooked during movements. The public likes to only paint them as victims whose sons or husbands had left them to join the IRA or as girls manipulated by men to become politically involved in the conflict. In reality, their hearts and souls were as invested in the cause as their male counterparts. 

In our project, we wanted to show the meaningful contribution that various women had to the Troubles and illustrate how it impacted their lives. But, more importantly, we felt that learning and sharing their truths was essential.