One hundred years ago, Irish women voted for the first time. RTÉ's two-part documentary No Country for Women explores the long-term legacy of a century of government, legal and religious control over women's lives.
You can watch No Country For Women Part 1 & 2 on RTÉ Player now.
Across the two-part series, we saw Catherine Corless, Mary Robinson, Samantha Long and many more incredible women discuss a wide range of issues affecting such as the tie between contraception and women's economic independence, the treatment of women confined to 'mental asylums, Mother and Baby Homes and the Magdelene Laundries.
The documentary received high praise on Twitter from viewers:
Maia Dunphy
Watching #NoCountryForWomen and it really is hard to fathom how all these "fallen" women were locked up as if they all became pregnant by black magic. As one of the contributors just said; "men wanted to have sex before marriage but wanted to marry virgins".
— Maïa Dunphy (@MaiaDunphy) June 19, 2018
James Kavanagh
Legit crying watching #NoCountryForWomen on @RTEOne 😢 I’m never not shaken after hearing stories about Magdalene slave laundries. I genuinely cannot understand how the Catholic Church is still operational & respected.
— James Kavanagh (@JamesKavanagh_) June 20, 2018
Anne Roper
I would like to take this opportunity to extend a huge thanks to all the women who shared their stories tonight and who will do so tomorrow. Courageous all. #NoCountryForWomen #nocountry @RTEOne
— anneroper (@anneeroper) June 19, 2018
Samantha Long
I just want to thank everyone for recognising Margaret and Anne, my biological mother and grandmother. I am eternally grateful to you all for listening and hearing and to @anneeroper for the telling. Night night #NoCountryForWomen #nocountry
— Samantha Long (@SamanthaELong) June 20, 2018
Louise McSharry
Part one has been so incredibly powerful. Heartbreaking and infuriating. We knew and yet it’s still hard-hitting. This is true public service broadcasting. So proud of @gordonspierin’s work. #NoCountryforWomen
— Louise McSharry (@louisemcsharry) June 19, 2018
Sarah Bardon
#nocountryforwomen is like watching a horror movie. A devastating reminder of this State's abysmal attitude towards women, in particular pregnant women. It has just been one vile incident after another.
— Sarah Bardon (@SarahBardon) June 19, 2018
Gabrielle Monaghan
A wife's PPS number was simply her husband's number with the letter W tacked onto the end. And that lasted until 1991? Give me strength. #NoCountryForWomen
— Gabrielle Monaghan (@GabbyMonaghan) June 20, 2018
Emer McLysaght
#NoCountryForWomen should be required viewing for everyone in Ireland.
— EmerTheScreamer (@EmerTheScreamer) June 19, 2018
Miriam O'Callaghan
Superb first part tonight - congrats to @anneeroper Kieran Slyne & all the rest of the team #nocountryforwomen https://t.co/OohL6TuD4U
— Miriam O'Callaghan (@MiriamOCal) June 19, 2018
Louise O'Neill
This is an absolutely fascinating documentary. #nocountryforwomen
— Louise O' Neill (@oneilllo) June 19, 2018
Siobhán Maguire
That was the most powerful and disturbing television. Every Irish person should see it. #NoCountryForWomen #NoCountry
— Siobhán Maguire (@ShivMagST) June 19, 2018
Rory Cowan
Watched #NoCountryForWomen on +1. Heartbreaking viewing and very well made. I could be wrong, but I get the impression that people, up until recently, didn’t want to know what was going on. Ireland just seems to stumble from one dreadful scandal to another.
— Rory Cowan (@1rorycowan) June 19, 2018
Sue Murphy
So many strong, amazing women in this doc. We would be nowhere without them pushing boundaries. #NoCountryForWomen
— Sue Murphy (@IllSueYa) June 19, 2018
Gavin Duffy
Well done @RTEOne for the excellent but shocking #NoCountryForWomen last night. I urge all my male friends who may have missed it because of the #WorldCup coverage to make time to watch it on the @RTEplayer We All need to be aware how badly women were treated by the the State. pic.twitter.com/LX4D8lW6Nk
— Gavin Duffy (@GavinDuffy) June 20, 2018
Gordon Spierin
There’s eight extra clips related to #NoCountryforWomen on @RTEplayer now including Mary Robinson talking about her own experience of discrimination. Watch them here: https://t.co/Pd1ebbTTQj #nocountry @RTEOne
— Gordon Spierin (@gordonspierin) June 20, 2018
Watch part two of No Country for Women on RTÉ One tonight, Wednesday 20th of June at 9.35pm. Catch up with part one on RTÉ Player.
