Irish Women's Suffrage Society facts for kids

The Irish Women's Suffrage Society was an important group that worked to get women the right to vote. It was first started in 1872 by Isabella Tod and was called the North of Ireland Women's Suffrage Society.

This group worked hard to make sure that when a new law was made for Belfast in 1887, it gave the right to vote in local city elections to "persons" instead of just "men." This meant women in Belfast could vote in local elections 11 years before women in other parts of Ireland.

What They Fought For

In 1909, the group changed its name to the Irish Women's Suffrage Society. Its main office was in Belfast, but it also had smaller groups in other parts of northern Ireland.

The society held weekly meetings in Belfast. They talked about many important issues. These included how to help people drink less alcohol (temperance), how to reduce the number of babies who died young (infant mortality), and how to make sure women had equal chances in life. They also worked to create laws that would protect women working in factories.

Between 1912 and 1913, the society held many public meetings outside in Belfast. They also stood outside factory gates during lunch breaks to talk to working women and get them involved.

Important Members and New Alliances

Many important women were part of the society. These included Margaret McCoubrey, Elizabeth McCracken (who wrote under the name "L.A.M. Priestley"), and Elizabeth Bell. Elizabeth Bell was the first woman in Ireland to become a doctor specializing in women's health.

Winifred Carney, who was a trade union secretary and worked closely with James Connolly, also joined the society.

In 1913, another group called the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) started organizing in Belfast. This group was led by Dorothy Evans, who was sent by Christabel Pankhurst. Many members of the Irish Women's Suffrage Society joined this new group. The WSPU was known for taking more direct action to protest for women's right to vote.

The Society's End

By April 1914, so many members had joined the WSPU that the Irish Women's Suffrage Society officially closed down.

Another group that believed in more direct action for women's suffrage was started in Lisburn by Lillian Metge. She also worked with Dorothy Evans in the WSPU's efforts.

See also

• Women's suffrage organizations
• Timeline of women's suffrage
• List of suffragists and suffragettes