Women: Giants of the Irish Church

Women in Ireland and all across the world celebrated in a huge variety of ways to mark International Women’s Day on Sunday, 8th March 2026.

The March Messenger marked the occasion with its own celebratory contribution on Women Giants of the Irish Church, from the magazine’s editor Fr Donal Neary SJ.

We’ve chosen it as our monthly Messenger article for this spring, and you can read it in full below.

Women of Ireland Leading the Way in the Church

Looking over the history of the Church in Ireland, I remember the many women who were of huge influence. I remember Sr Stan, who co-founded Focus Point, later called Focus Ireland, a Kerry-born Religious Sister of Charity. John Scally’s article last month sketched her life in greater detail. It was a privilege to meet her at many gatherings of the Sisters and to work with her on some articles for the Messenger. She was a valued supporter of the magazine.

She is one of a long line, beginning with St Brigid. Closer to the present, I think of Mary Aikenhead (Religious Sisters of Charity), Mary McCauley (Religious Sisters of Mercy) and Margaret Alyward (Holy Faith Sisters), all pioneering and inspiring leaders in education and healthcare.

I think of laywomen like Edel Quinn, the well-known Legion of Mary envoy in East Africa. Many catechists and staff at the Mater Dei Institute remember with some awe Dominican Mother Jordana, who served as president there for many years. Today she is recognised alongside Archbishop McQuaid as a co-worker. Another Dominican sister, Margaret McCurtain, is remembered as a NUI lecturer, author, and the founding principal of the Ballyfermot College of Further Education.

Much of the renewal of the Church after the Second Vatican Council would not have happened without the challenging influence of sisters and lay women within dioceses and parishes. Behind every priest of renewal was a sister prodding and encouraging!

Without the faith of Irish mothers and grandmothers, along with, of course, Irish fathers and grandfathers, the ‘handing on’ of faith would be the poorer. In the example they set through their teaching and work, they taught us much.

In the ‘giants’ of our Irish Church, the women of Ireland can lead the way. We support the various ways in which the role of women in the Irish Church may be enhanced, including women serving as deacons, and later we hope as priests.