A Women for Europe event in Kilkenny on the eve of an All-Ireland Hurling Final? What were they thinking, asks MICHAEL PARSONS
AN ADVANCE press release was rather optimistically headlined “The South East Awakens to Opportunity Presented by Europe”. The public – especially “ordinary” Mná na hÉireann – stayed away in droves. The locals who attended were mainly politicians and activists.
Women for Europe describes itself as “a new civil society movement, representing women from all strata of society who support a Yes vote”. But the bandwagon, which rolled in by train from Dublin to Kilkenny’s Newpark hotel, was more polo pony than pure mule.
Big names included Olive Braiden – former chair of the arts council; a diaphanous Nessa Childers; and ice-queen, Catherine Day, the Irishwoman who is the EU Commission’s secretary general and considered, by many, to be the most powerful woman in Europe apart from Angela Merkel.
They looked like the board of governors of a posh Swiss finishing-school. Mairéad McGuinness, the Macra na Feirme lads' pin-up girl and a Fine Gael MEP staged a sideline "photo-op" coup by meeting with Denis "Rackard" Coady, kit manager for the Kilkenny team who presented her with a "signed jersey". Ten "ordinary women", who could have been styled by the Glossmagazine, presented reasons for voting Yes. A violinist serenaded proceedings with Dvorak and refreshments included cupcakes with icing spelling out Women for Europe.
Asked who was paying for the event, a spokeswoman said the group was “funded by voluntary contributions” and that “people put money into the buckets at events”. Well, they didn’t. Not a single cent was visibly donated on Saturday.