4 Inspiring Irish Women to Celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day
“Time is a great storyteller.”
- Irish Saying
In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day and Women’s History Month, let’s celebrate these 4 inspiring Irish women from past and present! Each of these women have looked at the eye of a challenge, and jumped in, full force. They have all faced different obstacles on each of their individual paths, showing that a woman with her mind set can accomplish anything with a bit of grit, determination, and courage. These Irish women were not afraid to take up space, to challenge the status quo, or to push themselves- even if they did have a little Irish luck on their sides!
1. Clare O'Leary, Mountaineer
Clare O’Leary was the first Irish woman to climb Mount Everest, but she didn’t stop there! She has climbed the Seven Summits and was the first woman to ski to the South Pole.[1] She has made several attempts to make it to the North Pole, but her efforts have been hindered to date. When she makes it to the North Pole, she will have completed the Explorer’s Grand Slam, a feat that few worldwide can claim, men or women.
Her mind is still on the North Pole, but in the meantime, she is heading up The Ice Project where she and her adventure partner are attempting to cross all of the major icecaps in the world. You can follow along on Instagram @theiceproject[2] or on her Twitter @cl2ice. She has willingly faced some of the world’s most unforgiving terrain, demonstrating her dauntless and adventurous spirit! Would you ever attempt the Seven Summits?
2. Grace O'Malley, "Pirate Queen of Ireland"
Grace O’Malley was a young Irish girl who was determined to work on the sea like her father, whether or not it was socially accepted at the time. At a young age, her father told her that she could not join him aboard his ship for fear that her long red locks may get caught in the ship’s ropes. She cut her hair, nearly bald, and begged her father to change his mind.[1] Giving in, she joined him and never looked back from a life at sea.
During a time when women were not allowed to become Chieftains at sea- she did just that. Through the years, she gained popularity with the men around her as a fierce warrior and as a strong leader…by the time that her father passed, she was respected enough to take over and became Chieftain of the O’Malley Clan.
To showcase the strides that Grace made in her lifetime as a female in a man’s world, we can look at a meeting she had with Queen Elizabeth I, after years of fighting with the English.[2] The meeting is described as one of respect on both ends. Grace “refused to bow because she was herself a Queen, and not a subject of the Queen of England.”[3] These two great women of history saw the strength in one another and together agreed upon a truce where the Pirate Queen of Ireland would no longer attack English ships. What a story- she was a true force to be reckoned with!
Nearly 50 years before women were allowed to attend medical school or practice medicine in Ireland and the United Kingdom, Margaret Ann Bulkley did just that. At a young age, disheartened at the state of the world and the roles that women were allowed to play, she disguised herself as a young man and enrolled in medical school.[1] From that point on, she was known as James Barry.
After medical school, she enlisted in the army and became an assistant surgeon. During her time stationed in South Africa, she became the first doctor to successfully perform a c-section that both mother and child survived. By the end of her career, Margaret had reached the equivalent of Brigadier General, in charge of all military hospitals.[2]
Ultimately, “Barry had hoodwinked Edinburgh University, the Royal College of Surgeons and the British Army to become the first female doctor in the UK.”[3] Though many had questioned her throughout her life, the truth did not come to light until after she passed. She lived a life concealing her identity to be sure that she could make change that she cared about in her lifetime, would you ever go this far to do something you were passionate about?
Nikki Bradley was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, Ewing’s Sarcoma, at the young age of 16. This life-changing diagnosis did not stop her though- she survived, and by the age of 26 had received two hip replacements placing her permanently on crutches.
Through all of this, Nikki is still an avid adventurer. She created a campaign called Fighting Fit for Ewing’s, where she completes different challenges to showcase how recovery can be facilitated with physical activity. Some challenges that she has recently completed include: climbing the Solheimajokull glacier in Iceland, completing a 24-kilometer trek of the Brecon Beacons in Wales, and summiting four Irish peaks within 32 hours… and on crutches![1]
In August of 2021 she made the tough decision to have an amputation of one of her legs, a day that she always knew would come.[2] She shares her story on Instagram if you would like to follow along on her incredible journey!
So, this St. Patrick’s Day, when you are all dressed up in your green garb and celebrating Irish culture- make a cheers to these strong Irish women, a toast to your future in adventuring, and to all women! Sláinte!
Blog Written by WWE Ambassador Laurel O'Donnell
Citations
[1] O'Sullivan, P. (2020, December 15). 2020 Lynam Medal Awarded to Dr Clare O Leary. Mountaineering Ireland. https://www.mountaineering.ie/aboutus/news/2020/?id=324
[1][@theiceproject]. (n.d.). Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/theiceproject/?hl=en[1] Irish Post. (2021, September 7). Grace O'Malley: 12 incredible facts about the fearless pirate Queen of Ireland. The Irish Post. https://www.irishpost.com/life-style/irelands-pirate-queen-twelve-fascinating-facts-about-legendary-grace-omalley-129406
[1] Grace O Malley Granuaile. (n.d.). Discovering Ireland. https://www.discoveringireland.com/grace-o-malley-granuaile/
[1]Grace O Malley Granuaile. (n.d.). Discovering Ireland. https://www.discoveringireland.com/grace-o-malley-granuaile/[1] Holland, B. (2017, March 24). The extraordinary secret life of Dr. James Barry. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/news/the-extraordinary-secret-life-of-dr-james-barry
[1] Holland, B. (2017, March 24). The extraordinary secret life of Dr. James Barry. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/news/the-extraordinary-secret-life-of-dr-james-barry
[1] Moore, W. (2018, February 22). Dr James Barry: A woman ahead of her time review – an exquisite story of scandalous subterfuge. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/nov/10/dr-james-barry-a-woman-ahead-of-her-time-review
[1] Bradley, N. [@nikki_bradley_speaks]. (n.d.). Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/nikki_bradley_speaks/?hl=en
[1] Ireland's Most Adventurous Crutch User! (n.d.). The Motivation Factory. https://themotivationfactory.ie/
[1] McLaughlin, R. (2021, September 13). Nikki Bradley’s brave new journey. Donegal Daily. journey/
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