Changing Roles of Women in the 19th and 20th Century

All Irish Men receive the Right to Vote

Jan 1, 1884

Up until this, only men who were rich landowners were entitled to a vote. From now on, all Irish men had the right to cast their vote. http://www.vote.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17&Itemid=7

First Irish Women to receive the Right to Vote

Jan 1, 1918

Hannah Sheehy-Skeffington. Much of Hannah’s life was spent working for the right of Irish women to vote. Hannah and her friends were harassed by politicians and the police because of their efforts to ensure that women could have a voice in saying how the country should be run.
In 1918 after a long campaign they succeeded in getting the right for women to vote. But they had to be 30 years of age and own property. http://www.vote.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17&Itemid=7

Constance Markievicz was elected to sit at Dáil Éireann

Jan 1, 1919

Constance Markievicz was the first woman elected to Dáil Eireann in 1919 and was the only female Cabinet minister in Irish history until 1979.

All Irish Women over the age of 21 are given the Right to Vote

Jan 1, 1922

http://www.vote.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17&Itemid=7 Www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/history/20th_century/womens_suffrage/revision/3/

Men collected children's allowance

Jan 1, 1944

Only men were entitled to collect their children's social welfare payments. http://www.irishcentral.com/news/how-things-have-changed-ten-things-that-irish-women-could-not-do-in-1970s-183526621-237593131.html

Marriage Bar is abolished

Jan 1, 1973

Before this time, all women who got married were obliged to give up their jobs to be a stay at home wife, taking care of household responsibilities. http://www.ifg.ie/content/media-and-news/industry-news/10-07-02/Civil_Service_marriage_bar_women_want_pensions_back.aspx

Introduction of the Employment Bill

Jul 3, 1973

Michael O’Leary, Minister for Labour, introduced the Employment (Equal Pay) Bill, 1973 in the Dáil. http://ciarameehan.com/2013/05/27/1970s-ireland-a-good-place-for-women/

Social Welfare Act

Jun 12, 1974

From now, women are entitled to collect their children's social welfare payments. http://www.gaelick.com/2010/05/not-so-long-ago/9031/

Maire Geoghegan Quinn is elected as the second woman to sit at Dáil Éireann

Apr 21, 1979

Irish women have filled just under seven per cent of seats in the Dail and Seanad since their first general election and Ireland is currently ranked 87th in the world for its female representation in Government. http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/irish-news/irelands-90th-anniversary-of-womens-first-vote-26499374.html

The First Female President of Ireland is Elected

Jan 1, 1990

The Irish presidential election of 1990 was the tenth held in Ireland, and the first to include a female candidate - Independent politician Mary Robinson would go on to hold office for the next seven years. http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/Ireland-elected-its-first-female-president-Mary-Robinson-24-years-ago-today-.html