To commemorate the centenary of the first granting of votes for women in Ireland, the National Print Museum is organising a special exhibition seeking to engage the public in an understanding of the Irish women’s suffrage campaign from a fresh perspective.

The upcoming exhibition “Print, Protest, and The Polls: The Irish women’s suffrage campaign and the power of print media, 1908 – 1918” will commemorate the centenary of the first female vote in Ireland through exploration of the use of print media by the Irish suffragists, and their opponents, in their methods of promotion and protest. Exhibition content will include print ephemera, photographs, and newspaper publications which illustrate the influence and effect of protest through print in a period of early media. It will demonstrate the role which the process of print played in the Irish fight for women’s rights to vote, and will feature print ephemera which has never before been exhibited publicly.

We are aware that this is a subject which has not had much opportunity for exhibition before, and it is likely that much undocumented suffrage material still exists amongst family and private collections across the country. The National Print Museum would like to offer the opportunity for the public to have such material exhibited alongside our chosen pieces, allowing for wider inclusion and a more comprehensive retelling of the Irish suffrage story.

During Women’s History Month, the exhibition committee is now calling for original print material relating to the theme of Irish women’s fight for the vote. Potential material might include: women’s suffrage promotional posters and pamphlets, photographs, newspapers, postcards, placards, and other contemporary printed ephemera.

Suffragette postcard sent within Ireland, c. 1910. Copyright of NPM.

An open day will take place on Wednesday 28th March from 14.00 until 16.00, where interested parties are invited to call into the Museum with their material, which they would be willing to loan to the National Print Museum for the duration of the exhibition. The curator will meet with visitors on the day and photograph potential exhibition material. Please note that artefacts will not be collected by the Museum on this date. If you cannot make this date, but would like to participate, please get in touch by emailing education@nationalprintmuseum.ie or ringing 01 6603770.

The National Print Museum is located in the Garrison Chapel of Beggars Bush Barracks, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

For more information, please contact education@nationalprintmuseum.ie or 01 6603770.

www.nationalprintmuseum.ie

https://www.nationalprintmuseum.ie/collection-and-permanent-exhibition/temporary/current-upcoming-exhibitions/