Totally Dublin 1
Dublin Resource Centre and the Women’s Informatio
n Network, tracing their earliest introductions to activism. Physical locations for meet-ups cultivated a buzzing political awakening nestled in various premises in the heart of Dublin City. What is most striking from the photographs of these turbulent years is that the women on the streets are ordinary. Ordinary in their role as housewife, student, mother or caregiver – extraordinary in their commitment to show up fearlessly in the act of protest. The testimonies of the exceptional individuals in Acts of Defiance show that they were never discouraged by defeat. Rose seconds this with unparalleled vigour. “Don’t give up,” she urges, as a takeaway from the book, “It is important to be out there.” The photographs in Acts of Defiance display a glimpse into the tireless organisation and dissemination of information that took place behind the scenes to ensure that there would be strength in numbers at each march. Pictorial evidence of the feats that can be achieved by collective organisation is, now more than ever, vitally important. This era of Irish history is not only one to be documented, but one to be learned from, built on, and one to be inspired by. “History must be written and recorded,” Rose affirms, “It must not just be archived, but it also must be there, readily available.” 46 Though these photographs are historical artefacts, they are also powerful testaments to the unfettered energy of the women who took to the streets, and a reminder that the need for protest persists. If anything, it has gotten stronger. Referendum Solidarity, 1985 “On paper, we lost every battle, but it never felt like that,” one testimony in Act of Defiance notes, “Wreaking havoc is essential. Winning anything is a bonus.” “History must be written and recorded.It must not just be archived, but it also must be there, readily available.” Acts of Defiance was launched on Thursday, 28 May at the Photo Museum Ireland in Temple Bar. The book is available to purchase from hitonebooks.ie, with a limited run of 300 copies. Hi Tone Books is a publisher of high-quality books on Irish popular culture and photography, run by Dubliners Garry O’Neill and Niall McCormack.