A powerful filmed lecture on Irish women’s activism in Britain, delivered by long-standing feminist, activist and author Ann Rossiter, and filmed by renowned director Sé Merry Doyle at the Irish Cultural Centre in May 2024.
In “These Wildish Things,” Rossiter reflects on a lifetime of activism as she traces the contributions of London-Irish women to political and feminist movements—ranging from the Irish National Question during the Troubles to the fight for reproductive rights that led to the repeal of Ireland’s 8th Amendment in 2018.
Drawing from her own experience and her forthcoming book, Rossiter discusses radical grassroots groups including:
- The Women on Ireland Collective (1973–74)
- The Women and Ireland Group (1976–80)
- The London Armagh Group (1980–c.1987)
- IWASG – Irish Women’s Abortion Support Group (1980–2000)
- Iasc – Irish Abortion Solidarity Campaign (1990–2008)
- IMELDA – Ireland Making England the Legal Destination for Abortion (founded 2013)
The lecture also explores how satire and performance art, especially through IMELDA, challenged Ireland’s abortion laws in the years before reform.
This is an essential watch for anyone interested in Irish history, feminism, or the complex relationship between Ireland and Britain through the lens of women’s lived experience.
📍 Filmed at: Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith
🎬 Directed by: Sé Merry Doyle
🔗 Learn more: irishculturalcentre.co.uk