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Great Reform Act 1832
Great Reform Act. The words 'male person' written into Act. Women can no longer vote. This was the first law explicitly banning women from voting. -
Custody
A married woman could apply for custody of her children up to the age of 7. The husband had previously been regarded at law as the sole parent. -
Earnings
A married woman could keep her own earnings. Before this all earnings were given to the husband -
Custody
A married woman could apply for custody of her children up to the age of 16 -
Dublin Women's Suffrage Association Founded
Anna and Thomas Haslam found Dublin Women's Suffrage Association, later called Irish Women's Suffrage and Local Government Association. (IWSLGA) -
Intermediate Education Act 1878
The Intermediate Education Act of 1878 allowed girls to sit state exams. -
The Royal University of Ireland Act of 1879
The Royal University of Ireland Act of 1879 allowed them to take university degrees. -
Female Graduates
The first nine women graduates of Royal University of Ireland graduated in 1884. -
Custody
A married woman could apply for custody of her children up to the age of 21. -
Petition for Women's Right to Vote in Parliament
CS Parnell presents a petition for women's suffrage (the right to vote) in the House of Commons in England, which made laws for Ireland at the time. -
Conradh na Gaeilge
Conradh na Gaeilge was founded (also known as The Gaelic League) and was the first organisation in Ireland to admit women and men equally. -
Town Councils - Local Government Act
Women allowed to sit on Rural Councils and Town Councils but not on County Councils. Over 100 women elected the following year. -
Trinity College
Trinity College Dublin opened all of it's degrees to women in 1904. -
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin founded. The name was devised by Máire Butler and women were admitted on equal terms with men. -
NUI
National University of Ireland opened all its degrees to women. -
Irish Women's Franchise League (IWFL)
Irish Women's Franchise League (IWFL), an organisation for women's suffrage was set up in November 1908 in Dublin. It campaigned for Women's Right's and published a newspaper called the Irish Citizen from 1912 until 1920. -
Women Vote
General election after the war. Women vote for the first time. Constance Markievicz elected first female MP but does not take her seat in Westminster -
Irish Free State
Irish Free State Constitution grants the vote to men and women over 21 years old. -
Marriage Ban
Female civil servants and other public servants (primary teachers from 1958 were excluded from the so-called "marriage ban") had to resign from their jobs when they got married, on the grounds that they were occupying a job that should go to a man. Banks operated a similar policy. -
Children's Allowance
The 1944 legislation that introduced the payment of children's allowances (now called child benefit) specified that they be paid to the father. The father could, if he chose, order his wife to collect the money, but she had no right to it. This did not change until 1974. -
Married Women and Property
Married women are allowed to own their own property separately from their husbands. -
Female Primary School Teachers
The marriage ban on married women working as primary teachers is lifted. -
First Female Students in St. Pats.
Female students were admitted for the first time in 1971; they now constitute a large majority of the student population. -
Marriage Ban Lifted
The marriage ban on female workers in the public service was lifted in July 1973. -
Employment Equality Act 1977
In 1977, the Employment Equality Act prohibited discrimination on the grounds of gender or marital status in almost all areas of employment. -
Maternity Protection
Maternity protection for pregnant employees, entitling them to 14 weeks leave and the right to return to work.
