International Women's Day March 8th 2023 - focus on Ireland

For this year's Int'l Women's Day, I would like to commemorate two Irish Presidents, Mary Robinson, the first female President (from 1990-1997) and the 7th Irish President, and Mary MacAleese, the 2nd female President *from 1997-2011). Also, I would like to remember the fiercely courageous journalist Veronica Guerrin who was assassinated while driving her car, and the activist Bernatdette Devlin who is still living. Not to shortchange the arts, I would like to rememmber Lady Isabelle Gregory, a noted playwrite and the founder of the Abbey Theater, as well as a founder and supporter of other theatrical efforts during her lifetime.

At this time of year, approaching St. Patrick's Day, my mind always turns toward my own Irish female origins. Lavinia Johnson's parents were listed on the Phildelphia census as originating in Ireland. She married Hiram McQuiston (also listed as having parents from Ireland). Her name was passed down to Lavinia (McQuiston) Lyons, who adopted her niece, my mother, Mary Lavinia (Goldy) Wright. i named my daughter after my mother and the other Lavinias - Lavinia Jones Wright. Lavinia lives in New York with her husband and she is in the theater and in film among other things. A recent project she worked on LOVE ALL ALICES was a commemorative play and film for her theater teacher/menot Alice Spivak who died November 9, 2020. Her husband is a musician and works as a music producer. He appeared in Hedwig and the Angry Inch and was a member of the band, These United States.

To all the women all over the world who dared to fight for a cause, tell the truth, leave their homeland for someplace better, rise up to a position of power. create a work of art despite the obstcles, and to do the simple courageous every day things like give birth to a child and raise a family - I salute you!

Happy International Women's Day! Jo Ann ( please use my email to contact me as the comments function is copletely polluted by rob-spam) wrightj45@yahoo.com