President Michael D Higgins has hailed the transformative role of Irish women in British and Irish life.
He was speaking at an inaugural event to mark St Brigid's Day in London's Irish Embassy.
The event celebrates the contributions and talents of women in many fields, including the arts, architecture, fashion, business, science and technology.
It takes place on Lá Fhéile Bríde or St Brigid's Day.
This morning, President Higgins paid his respects at the grave of Eva Gore-Booth.
He gave a speech in London in October 2016 on the life and work of Ms Gore-Booth, the Sligo-born suffragist and activist.
The president also visited the Suffragette Fellowship Memorial in London's Christchurch Gardens.
An Associate Professor at the Department of History and Politics in Liverpool Hope University, has said she believes that women who fought for the vote would be disappointed to see there is still a big gender imbalance in politics.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Sonja Tiernan explained that women did not have the right to vote until 1918 because the perception was the women were not interested in politics as it was predominantly a male role.
The right to vote was granted on a very restricted basis and only extended to women over the age of 30 and those who had property rights or university degrees.
Prof Tiernan spoke at a conference at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin this morning.
