Celibacy in Irish Women’s Writing
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Project and Podcast Series
Celibacy in Irish Women’s Writing
A new history of feminist, queer and activist celibacies in Ireland
In the popular imagination, the practice of celibacy in 19th and 20th century Ireland evokes images of male priests, Catholic moral values, and conservative, even reactionary, politics concerning women and sexuality. This project reveals a different history that centres less familiar feminist, queer, and activist versions of celibacy in Irish women’s movements and literatures.
Frances Power Cobbe
In a series of essays published in the 1860s, the Irish women’s and animal rights activist Frances Power Cobbe argued that women should embrace celibacy as a means to greater social, educational, economic and equality.
Kate O’Brien
The novels of Limerick author Kate O’Brien present a 20th-century Irish Catholic twist on the 19th-century ‘celibate plot’, which charts a character’s development not towards dependence and integration into patriarchal social structures, as in the ‘marriage plot,’ but rather towards independence and a rejection of the limits that such structures place upon women a rejection of the marriage proposal.
Elizabeth Bowen
Elizabeth Bowen…
Teresa Deevy
Teresa Deevy…
Margaret Cousins
Margaret Cousins…
Hannah Lynch
Hannah Lynch…
Podcast Series
A Research Ireland funded podcast series explores celibate politics, aesthetics and sexualities in Irish women’s writing through conversations with leading sexuality studies and Irish Studies experts, including Benjamin Kahan, Maureen O’Connor, Michelle Witen, Deirdre Foley and more…!
“Let us refuse as husbands any man who is not sufficiently generous to consent to share his power; we want no more of this formula: ‘Woman, submit to your husband!’ […] We demand equality in marriage. We prefer celibacy to slavery“
– Jeanne Deroin
Paul Fagan
Project Leader
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