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FROM BREHON LAWS TO BRA BURNING
The Rolling Sun Book Festival featured "FROM BREHON LAWS TO BRA BURNING" with Nell McCafferty, Eamon Ryan and Anne Chambers in conversation with Eamon Smyth at the Wyatt Hotel in Westport.
Nell in full flight
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Under Discussion:
When 16th century pirate queen, Grace O'Malley used the Brehon Laws* as ballast for her seafaring feminism, little did she imagine that 400 years later women would be burning their bras in a continuing quest for equality.
But has the women's revolution been more cosmetic than cultural? Does this generation of politicians understand women, and their potential positive role, in society and politics.
Or does it really matter because in the end power corrupts and removes the privileged from the basic realities of society, whether that is women or men.
So many questions - can the panel find common ground or even a gender balance?
* Brehon Laws
Under The Brehon Laws (ancient laws of Ireland dated back to 714 BC), women occupied a unique place. The Irish law gave more rights and protection to women than any other political system before or since Women were considered equal to men in all things. Women had protection in law from sexual harassment; from rape; from discrimination; they had the right of divorce from their husbands on an equal footing, with equitable separation rights, they could demand part of their husbands property as a divorce settlement. They had the right to inherit personal property. They had the right of sickness benefits when ill or in hospital. Ancient Ireland had Europe oldest recorded hospital system. Seen from today the Brehon Laws provided an almost feminist utopia.
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Impossible to encapsulate? The wide-ranging discussion was dotted by Nell's hilarious anecdotes regarding her Celtic Tiger dental implants, her attitude to botox and ‘brazilians', her climbing of Croagh Patrick.
Anne Chambers focussed more on the Brehon Laws than bra burning: detailing the exploits of Grainne Uaile, Grace O'Malley the pirate queen, now on the school curriculum thanks to Anne's historical biography. She also had some insights into Ken Whittaker, architect of modern Ireland and her latest biographical subject.
Were we better off under Brehon Laws and, in particular, were women better off? Are men inherently bad? Would the world and politics be better with women in charge, reverting to an old-style matriarchal society? Eamon Ryan felt that, from the archaeological evidence provided by Michael Gibbons, Brehon Law times were probably closer to an Afghan style war lord society than some idyllic Utopia.
Eamon then wondered about the idealism of the 1970s as regards feminism and environmental awareness of the time. Where did it go and can that idealism be revived in a new wave, post the crash? He also decried the modern feminism that reportedly requires women to outdo men in terms of unethical behaviour. The Man Up campaign against domestic violence and the issues concerning young men's mental health in the face of changing gender roles were mentioned, but didn't get that much air time.
A large part of the evening focussed on gender issues, transgender issues and even trans-transgender issues with a whole range of potential new legal ‘niceties' arising.
All in all, Eamon Smith had a difficult job as conductor on the roller-coaster, Rolling Sun discussion, that really is impossible to encapsulate.
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On Sunday a recording of a forthcoming Sunday Miscellany takes place in the Hotel Westport.
Nell McCafferty
The inimitable Nell McCafferty is a journalist, playwright, civil rights campaigner and feminist. In her journalistic work she has written for The Irish Press, The Irish Times, Sunday Tribune, Hot Press and The Village Voice. She is the author of eight books including her 2005 autobiography "Nell - a disorderly woman", in which she relates her experiences as a witness and commentator of the events that shaped modern Ireland.
Eamon Ryan
Leader of the Green Party and Dublin MEP candidate, Eamon served as Minister of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources from 2007-11.
Before he was elected to the Dáil he set up and ran two businesses, Irish Cycling Safaris and Belfield Bike shop. He was an active member and chairman of the Dublin Cycling Campaign, and from 1995 to 2002 served on the Advisory Committee of the Dublin Transport Office.
Dublin born Eamon is married to the writer Victoria White and they have four young children. He is a regular entertaining and knowledgeable guest on national radio and TV.
Anne Chambers
Biographer, novelist, short-story and screenplay writer, Anne's books include the bestselling biography Granuaile: Grace O'Malley - Ireland's Pirate Queen, Eleanor Countess of Desmond, La Sheridan: Adorable Diva, Ranji: Maharajah of Connemara and At Arms Length: Aristocrats in the Republic of Ireland. Her most recent book, TK Whitaker: Portrait of a Patriot was published in September to much acclaim. Many of her books have been translated and published abroad and have been the subject of international television and radio documentaries. Her short film Coming Home, an uplifting and positive story about breast cancer, was recently broadcast on RTE and is being currently adapted internationally. A native of Castlebar she now works and lives in Dublin.
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