Historian Laurel Ulrich‘s 1976 phrase is one of a variety featured in this Derry mural celebrating the role of women both locally and world-wide. It includes images of local women banging bin lids, marching past the ‘Free Derry’ graffiti on 33 Lecky Road, and rioting; images of women striking and protesting; support for Palestine and gay rights; celebrations of femininity; and Wonder Woman. As the final image, below, shows, the tapestry of images and posters is being sewn by a woman at a sewing-machine in one of Derry’s large shirt- and collar-making factories. (For some history see these Derry Journal articles: one | two.) As the panel on the left-hand side notes, “Derry women made more than shirts; they made communities”.
On the left of the main panel, women march out of one of the city’s gates. The information sheet (which has fallen off) reads as follows: “On International Women’s Day, March 8th [1991, not 1981 as the hand-written addition suggests], the first ever women’s mural in Derry was unveiled on the back of Free Derry Wall. It was designed and painted by Patricia Hegarty and Joe Coyle, and helpers, both men and women. The mural takes its inspiration from a march in November 1968, after Minister for Home Affairs Bill Craig banned all civil rights marches in the walled city. Women factory workers walked out and spent the afternoon marching in and out of every gate in the city, deliberately “breaking the ban”. Men marched in from DuPont to join them, and a rally was held in the Diamond. In the mural you can find the faces of some of those marching on that historic day, as well as other women who played their part in the ongoing struggle for justice. Civil rights workers Bridget Bond and Women’s Aid refuge founder Cathy Harkin march alongside republicans such as Ethel Lynch, Bridget Sheils, Peggy Derry, prisoners’ rights activists Susie Coyle, and many others. You may find images of your granny, sister or aunt. The mural is dedicated to all those women whose energy and determination have changed their lives and the world about them.”
The board on FDC can be seen in Woods’s Seeing Is Believing?, plate 19.
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X02808 X02811 X02809 X02810 bric bernadette devlin mcaliskey marriage math on trial need your support resisting war crimes is not a crime divas dames daredevils don’t stereotype me stop hating yourself for everything you aren’t start loving yourself for everything that you are every body is beautiful so long as women are not free the people are not free bread roses aunt jemima ballbreaker biker chick bimbo bitch bombshell bra burner bull dyke butch call girl carmen miranda china doll dumb blonde fag hag femme fatale feminazi geisha girl next door gold digger good catholic girl harem girl ho homegirl hot tamale indian princess jewish lady boss lipstick lesbian lolita mother teresa nympho old hag old maid pinup prude slut soccer mom squaw stage mom supermodel tokyo rose tomboy trophy wife valley girl vamp wicked stepmother yummy mummy bitches bimbos guerilla girls illustrated guide to female stereotypes any questions? hush-a-bye-baby breastfeeding sowing spinning weaving woven patches patchwork thomas mcelwee funeral X02808 X02809 X02810 X02811
Extramural Activity 