Katherine Lynch joined Brenda Donohue in studio this afternoon on The Ray D’Arcy Show to talk about RTÉ’s upcoming celebration of International Women’s Day. But Brenda had to get through all Katherine’s job titles first…

“Singer, comedian, actor, dancer, star of stage and screen…”

“Wino”, added Katherine, topping off the list.

Katherine is just one of the panelists who will be featured at the event, along with Margaret Martin, Director of Women’s Aid and psychotherapist Siobhán Murray. They will be interviewed by RTÉ’s Taragh Loughrey-Grant as part of The Hourglass series. All profits will benefit Women’s Aid. Calling it “a celebration of women”, Katherine is optimistic about the progress Ireland has made in terms of equality for women.

“You know us, women, we’re unstoppable once we realise we deserve better.“

The focus now, she says, is global equality.

“There is a problem. They’re thinking, for global equality, it’s going to take another 200 years for men and women to be equal. And of course, there’s all sorts of gorgeous men out there that I love and it’s not about having power over men. It’s about having power over yourself.”

Katherine thinks we’re in something of a “golden age” when it comes to women in the arts, particularly in comedy. She listed Alison Spittle, Sharon Horgan, Deirdre O’Kane, Jennifer Maguire and the show Derry Girls as modern inspirations while looking back at Maureen Potter and Rosaleen Linehan as trailblazers from the past. She paid tribute to Linehan especially.

“Still up and at it and still a hero of comedy. And a hero of progression because she was playing these ‘cusp of society’ characters long before any of us were.”

Katherine also gave credit to those women who blazed a trail behind the scenes.

“You have all these GAA ladies. These women who have washed the jerseys, now they’re on the pitch. Now they’re playing. Now they’re training. Now they’re holding the cups up high.”

It’s a poetic way of phrasing it but as it turns out, poetry is in her blood. Katherine is the grand-niece of renowned Irish poet, Patrick Kavanagh. And she might just be back on the show someday with some poetry or lyrics that she’s written.

“We’re so proud. I mean to have any of that blood running through my veins is a privilege.”

As for the event in the Little Museum of Dublin on the 8th of March, Katherine thinks it makes plain financial sense. Entry is €5 but you get a glass of wine and an ice-cream with that.

“So, you’re up €5 if you come.“

Listen back to the whole segment with Katherine Lynch on The Ray D’Arcy Show here. Tickets are available for the night here.