“I think the bicycle has done more to emancipate women than any one thing in the world. I rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a bike. It gives her a feeling of self-reliance and independence the moment she takes her seat; and away she goes, the picture of untrammeled womanhood.”
American civil rights leader, Susan B Anthony, 1896
1918 was the first time Irish women were permitted by law to vote and stand in parliamentary elections. 1918 was also the year in which the first woman was elected to the British Parliament at Westminster. Countess Markievicz, who represented Dublin’s St. Patrick’s constituency, never took her seat at Westminster. Instead, she joined the revolutionary first Dáil, becoming the first female TD.
2018 marked the centenary of women’s suffrage in Ireland. To celebrate the important historical role of bicycles for suffragettes and the emancipation of Women, the theme for the Dublin Cycling Campaign’s 2018 contribution to the St. Patricks Day Parade was the Freedom Machine. It was conceived and developed by Artist Donna Cooney who is an avid cyclist and campaigner.
The project involved participants making replica suffragette sashes and banners in honour of Irish suffragettes. Workshops took place in Tailors Hall which is a three-hundred-year old historical building in the constituency of Countess Markievicz. Donna Cooney coordinated the project with the assistance of Artist Laragh Pittman and Gary Brady. The hash tag #FreedomMachine with images of women joyfully astride their bicycles trended and took over or reclaimed the hash tag from a popular motor cycle brand.
The pageant involved over 100 women, of all ages on bicycles in suffragette attire in the Parade promoting ‘Women on bikes, Votes for Women, Votes for Bikes’. The participants carrying hand crafted original designed banners, sashes and placards, were followed by family and supporters on bicycles and cargo bikes. Meteorologist Joanna Donnelly and Senator Ivana Bacik both keen cycling advocates rode up front on their vintage ‘High Nelly‘ freedom machines.
Participation of Dublin Cycling Campaign in the St. Patricks Day Parade is supported annually by Dublin City Council. The parade itself attracts half a million spectators and is televised live on national television. It is also heavily publicised worldwide giving access to an even wider global audience.
Freedom Machine events were organised throughout 2018 by Ms. Cooney including a tour on the East Coast cycle trail during national Bike week and a cycling tour and talk to commemorate the centenary of the election of Countess Markievicz and connection with the bicycle. Many participants had not cycled in many years and through the organised events gained confidence to get their freedom back on their bicycles.
As a member of the Dublin Cycling Campaign committee Ms. Cooney has a role in cycling advocacy. The Freedom machine project aims to increase participation of women in cycling; in Ireland women account for only one in every four cyclists. The Freedom Machine has been selected as an oral presentation at Dublin Velo-city 2019 in session 11c – Cycling & Gender on June 27th 3.30pm. Also watch out for the Freedom machine cyclists who will participate in the Dublin Velo-city Bike Parade on the 26th June.
This year’s Pageant in the St.Patrick’s Day Parade.
Joyce-cycle is a pageant of over one hundred participants of all ages on bicycles on the theme of Irish writers, who will be participating in the St. Patrick’s Parade on behalf of Dublin Cycling Campaign.
As we joyfully celebrate the many Irish writers who incorporated the bicycle in their literature. A Poetry competition on the theme of the bicycle in collaboration with Poetry Ireland was launched on Valentines Day. Check out more on https://joyce-cycle.com/
Sunday 17th June 2018, meeting at 12 noon at the Sail Sculpture junction of Alflie Byrne and Clontarf road.
Join a large group of cycling women in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the right to vote for women, as they make their way for a day of fun and festivities in St Anne’s Park! In St Anne’s Park Cycling Ireland are running their annual Bikefest event, with something for all the family. – http://www.bikeweek.ie/events/dublin/cycling-ireland-bike-fest-2018 This group of women accompanied by others of all ages , will be celebrating women’s emancipation on their Freedom Machines. For more information on the Freedom Machine theme check out https://freedommachineie.com/blog/.
Meet at Midday 12.00pm at the Sails Sculpture on Clontarf Seafront at Alfie Byrne Road. This is the final day of Bikeweek 2018!
This cycle is a lovely short, traffic free cycle along the Clontarf/Dollymount seafront on the new Clontarf Greenway, only opened last year. All ages and genders are welcome to come along, and you are sure to have a great time…..
We also have the support and endorsement of Micheline Sheehy Skeffington granddaughter of Hanna Sheehy Skeffington: Photo by Si Merry Doyle Outside Dublin Castle
We celebrate the important historical role of bicycles for suffragettes and the emancipation of Women.
The theme for the Dublin Cycling Campaign is titled #FreedomMachine.
Donna Cooney, an Artist, Activist, Campaigner and Cyclist developed the Freedom Machine concept and also co-ordinates the team of Artists, makers and participants in the Dublin Cycling Campaign for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2018.
Freedom Machine has one hundred women of all ages in suffragette costume with their bicycles in the parade, hand crafted replica period banners, sashes and placards, followed by a smaller group of their family, supporters and members of the Dublin Cycling Campaign on bicycles and cargo bikes.
The American civil rights leader, Susan B Anthony, wrote in 1896:“I think the bicycle has done more to emancipate women than any one thing in the world. I rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a bike. It gives her a feeling of self-reliance and independence the moment she takes her seat; and away she goes, the picture of untrammelled womanhood.”
“Many women cyclists would still claim those feelings of self-reliance and independence, but sadly in 2018 the number of female cyclists is dwindling, with three times more men than women choosing to cycle”.
“As we parade on our freedom machines we hope to encourage more women to enjoy leaving their homes and return freely and safely on their bicycles”.
We are joined by Senator Ivana Bacik Chair of Votail100, Joanna Donnelly Meteorologist who are both daily cyclists and by ninety eight other women who enjoy their freedom on their bicycles. We also have the support and endorsement of Micheline Sheehy Skeffington granddaughter of Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, Senators Alice Mary Higgins and Catherine Martin TD of the Votail 100 Dail committee.
We are generously supported by Dublin City Council in funding this event. Contact Donna Cooney: M: 083 3317190 E: donnacooney1@yahoo.ie Freedom Machine Project Website and please use #FreedomMachine
We will be crafting banners and more sashes at our suffragette workshop this Saturday 3rd March in Tailors Hall 11 am to 5 pm. Artist Laragh Pittman who is working on this project has crafted these pieces.
Home crafting on a snow day! An update on our workshop tomorrow, we have postponed until Sunday the 11th of March. Will email participants later today, but if you are at home today and can, please get crafting banners , sashes and props!
Crafting away on banners, with be sewing on ribbon later.
“Enid and Amy Bebbington
are really looking the part in their costumes”.
Dress rehearsal this Saturday 10th of March in the Liffey Trust Studio’s
“Freedom Machine” launch by the Dublin Cycling Campaign Press Release 7/03/2018
On the 8th of March on International Women‟s Day we celebrate #Votail100 and the historical link between the bicycles and the emancipation of women. Launch of „Freedom Machine‟ the theme for the Dublin Cycling Campaign’s participation in this year‟s St. Patrick‟s Day Parade.
Venue: Bewley’s Cafe, Grafton Street, join us for tea, coffee and a chat about Freedom Machine.
When: 8th March 11am Starting at Bewley’s Café where Hanna and Frank Sheehy Skeffington used to meet regularly to discuss feminism and politics, Bewley’s Café and the Quakers have a historical link with the Irish Suffragette movement.
Photo opportunity Outside Leinster House 11.30pm Donna Cooney will be joined by Joanna Donnelly (MetEireann #andacyclist)) and Artist Laragh Pittman. After the launch and refreshments we will cycle in suffragette costume with replica handcrafted banners to Leinster house Kildare Street, where at 11.30 Senator Ivana Bacik (convenor of Oireachtas Cycling Group) will join us to say a few words of support. In celebration of one hundred years since women “got the vote”. #Votail100 #VotesforWomen FreedomMachineWebsite “I’m really looking forward to participating in the Parade. Combining my passion for cycling with the celebration of the victory of the vote is something I had never considered. I’ve been cycling around Dublin since school, I’ve never been a fan of public transport, there’s nothing like the freedom cycling can give you. Up on the bike and away you go. And letting my daughter see me out there, celebrating in this way makes me delighted.” Joanna Donnelly Meteorologist and she say’s “all we need is fine weather and that’s not a problem…” ‘I am delighted to support the idea of the ‘Freedom Machine’, or ‘Suffragette Cyclists’, who will be taking part in the St Patrick’s Day Parade dressed in suffragette costumes. I think it’s very timely to do this in 2018, as this year marks the centenary of women’s suffrage in Ireland – it is 100 years since the passage of the Representation of the People Act which first gave women the right to vote, and December will mark the 100th anniversary of the 1918 General Election in which Constance Markievicz was elected as the first woman TD or MP. The suffragette cyclists will not only mark this important centenary, but will also play a vital role in encouraging more women to take to the bicycle and to promote cycling generally – as a committed cyclist, I am really delighted to support them.’ Senator Ivana Bacik
Freedom Machine from the Dublin Cycling Campaign.
In St. Patrick‟s Day Parade 2018 we will have one hundred women of all ages cycling in our Freedom Machine pageant in suffragette costume.
We celebrate the important historical role of bicycles for suffragettes and the emancipation of Women.
The theme for the Dublin Cycling Campaign is titled #FreedomMachine.
Donna Cooney, an Artist, Activist, Campaigner and Cyclist developed the Freedom Machine concept and also co-ordinated the team of Artists, makers and participants in the Dublin Cycling Campaign for the St. Patrick‟s Day Parade 2018. “Freedom Machine has one hundred women of all ages in suffragette costume with their bicycles in the parade, hand crafted replica period banners, sashes and placards, followed by a smaller group of their family, supporters and members of the Dublin Cycling Campaign on bicycles and cargo bikes”. “Many women cyclists would still claim those feelings of self-reliance and independence, but sadly in 2018 the number of female cyclists is dwindling, with three times more men than women choosing to cycle” “As we parade on our freedom machines we hope to encourage more women to enjoy leaving their homes and return freely and safely on their bicycles”. Donna Cooney Artist and Coordinator The American civil rights leader, Susan B Anthony, wrote in 1896:”I think the bicycle has done more to emancipate women than any one thing in the world. I rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a bike. It gives her a feeling of self-reliance and independence the moment she takes her seat; and away she goes the picture of untrammelled womanhood.” We are joined in the parade by Senator Ivana Bacik Chair of Votail100, Joanna Donnelly Meteorologist who are daily cyclists and by ninety eight other women who enjoy their freedom on their bicycles. We also have the support and endorsement of Micheline Sheehy Skeffington granddaughter of Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, Senators Alice Mary Higgins and Catherine Martin TD of the Votail 100 Dail committee. We are generously supported by Dublin City Council in funding this event. We are grateful to Jim Wolfe of Wolfe cycles for the loan of High Nellies.
Contact Donna Cooney: M: 083 3317190 E: donnacooney1@yahoo.ie Freedom Machine Project Website and please use #FreedomMachine
Some images and a video from our launch yesterday the 8th of March. See you at your preferred time tomorrow Saturday 10th of March for our dress rehearsal 3 pm to 8 pm in Liffey Trust Studio’s.
The Freedom Machine suffragettes had a busy weekend, some fantastic costumes at the dress rehearsal in the Liffey Trust Studios on Saturday. Then great fun together crafting wonderful banners, sashes and rosettes. Thought there would be loads of chat, but everybody was so engrossed in crafting, we only really talked when we stopped to eat together. It was great to be in the 300 year old Tailors hall where they had the Tailors Guild meetings. It’s also known as the venue for the historical meetings in 1792 known as ‘The Back Lane Parliament’
It was also the meeting place of the society of United Irishmen in the city, included among them was Theobald Wolfe Tone.
We were busy crafting our own historical political project yesterday a parliament of cycling freedom machine women.
More images from our crafting workshop, thanks to all the team and Juliane Costa for taking these photos.
https://ecf.com/news-and-events/news/vc19dublincase-freedom-machine
This year’s Pageant in the St.Patrick’s Day Parade.
Freedom Machine 