The first all women Fine Gael Cumann in the country has been established in Cashel.
Mary O'Dwyer, with her sisters Nora McGrath, Kathleen Devitt and Bridie Heffernan, established the Ladies Executive branch of Fine Gael in 1979.
From a family with a political background, they saw that women in the Cashel area were reluctant to become involved in politics. Wth an all female section of Fine Gael up and running, they attracted far more interest, and women from all parts of the community are represented.
Farmers, shopkeepers, nurses, working people.
Members of the Fine Gael Ladies Executive mean business and want to be involved in their political party. Women can bring many things to the political forum. A local woman points out there is no one thing of interest to men that is not of interest to women as well.
Fine Gael Councillor Louise Farrell credits winning a seat on the Cashel Urban District Council to the Ladies Executive. She sees a women’s branch as an inclusive measure which will result in
Getting a better representation of women in politics.
Attending the Fine Gael Ard Fheis in the RDS (Royal Dublin Society) rounds off a year of political education for the Fine Gael Ladies Executive.
Even though one woman is in the minority in her home, she was encouraged by her Fianna Fáil-supporting husband to join the branch.
This episode of 'Frontline’ was broadcast on 30 March 1980.
‘Frontline’ was an investigative report and analysis programme on issues of the day from Brian Farrell, Michael Heney, Forbes McFall and Michael Ryan.
