International Women’s Day marked with event in Rostrevor

An event organised by two local women, Joanne Fox and Barbara Wendel Sands, took place in the Rostrevor Inn on Thursday evening.

The event started with a welcome and short introduction about the history of International Women’s Day (IWD), how it began 100 years ago when women started to get together to fight for their rights, to call for peace during the first World War, and to address food shortages.

Much has changed since then however many women still do not have equal rights and we still have war and hunger and the IWD organisation continues to fight for women’s rights.

It was noted that events such as these were taking place all over the world organised by women, motivated by concerns for continuing with the important work of IWD, in their own free time, and without funding.

There was no charge for those attending, and no fees asked for by those contributing to the programme.

The event attracted support from a wide range of performers, women and men, with both music and the written word. Songs were performed in English, Irish, Chinese and Italian.

The evening ended with a rendition of ‘Bella Ciao’ a protest song adapted by women as a metaphor for freedom from oppression.