Celebrate Stories of Remarkable Women at OPW Locations for International Women's Day

International Women's Day 8 March 2026

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is delighted to announce a number of initiatives and tours at OPW sites in celebration of International Women’s Day. These events aims to celebrate inspiring Irish women associated with our heritage sites, highlighting their remarkable achievements and the impact they have had on our cultural heritage. Visitors will have the opportunity to hear about the lives of the inspiring women in our society and the influence they have played in shaping our communities.

Kilmainham Gaol is hosting a special guided tour that showcases the experiences of two different groups of women imprisoned in the Gaol. The tour explores female criminality in the 19th Century, drawing upon some of the stories of women held in the Gaol and what life was like for them within the prison system. A special tour at The Custom House, Dublin celebrates the work of women from the 18th century to the present day and highlights the protests connected to The Custom House in search for basic rights for women over the years.

At The National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, visitors can discover the contributions of contemporary women who both work in and are linked to the National Botanic Gardens working as ecologists, botanists, conservationists, paleo-botanists, horticulturalists, artists, photographers, and researchers.

Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Kevin “Boxer” Moran said: “We are delighted to shine a spotlight on the remarkable women whose courage, creativity and leadership have left a significant mark on our heritage. Through these events, we invite visitors to join us in celebrating these fascinating stories and inspiring future generations”.

For those unable to attend the talks in person, check out our blog post and read about Gwendolen Guinness, who was one of few women of her time to be elected as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons. She remained steadfast in her fight for and defence of women’s rights. Find out about the legendary Dr, Kathleen Lynn, who was involved in multiple movements throughout her life, including the suffragist, labour, and nationalist movements. This informative and engaging blog – her-story-and-her-itage reveals all.

For those interested in a more visual experience, take a virtual Art tour through our virtualartgallery - ‘Celebrating Female Irish Artists’.

Join us this International Women's Day for a unique opportunity to learn about the inspiring women who have shaped our communities at OPW Heritage Sites. For more information and a full list of events see links below or visit www.heritageireland.ie.

OPW spokespersons are available for interview upon request.

Please contact pressoffice@opw.ie for more information and to arrange an interview.

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Notes

For more information about the events please see links below:

Custom House Event, Dublin

International Women’s Day Tour - link

Kilmainham Gaol Event, Dublin

International Women’s Day Guided Tour - link

The National Botanic Gardens, Dublin

International Women’s Day Tour – link