Leitrim woman invited to HerStory expo in Aras an Uachtaráin

President Michael D Higgins recently hosted the ‘Peace Heroines’ Exhibition, curated by HerStory, at Áras an Uachtaráin which Ballinamore woman Máirín Martin was delighted to attend.

Máirín told the Observer “I was very honoured to be invited to this event, to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

“In recognition of this anniversary, the President hosted an event in honour of the significant and essential contribution that women have made to the critically important task of peacebuilding on the island of Ireland.”

The exhibition, which consists of a series of information panels and portraits commissioned and curated by HerStory, celebrates the role of women in the building of peace.

The event was addressed by President Higgins and Professor Monica McWilliams, one of just two women at the table of the All-Party talks.

Máirín continued “I secured my invitation, as I have play an active part in peace building since 2018, when Ballinamore Area Community Council Clg, secured its first tranche of funding, from the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), to run a cross border/cross community Peace Impact Programme. We successfully delivered an 18-month project and went on to secure a further grant of almost €200,000 from the IFI.

“This Peace Impact Programme – “Better Together – Níos Fearr Le Chéile” commenced on 1st February 2022.
“We employ two people, a full time Manager and a part-time office administrator.

“We run a range of cross border/cross community programmes from our office which is based in our Community Den, adjacent to our Sports Complex, on the Swanlinbar Road. The entire Project has Peace Building at its core.

Máirín concluded by quoting from the President's speech on the day: “Let us celebrate then the great contribution that women have made, to building and sustaining peace, to inclusion, equality and sustainable society and economy, and let us commit to working together to build on this progress, helping to end all forms of discrimination and inequality on an island at peace.”