Sir, – It was interesting to see your supplement (“How Irish Women Won the Vote”, October 17th). It was also interesting to note that, of the 27 articles included, only one was written by a man. It was (thirdly!) interesting to note that the piece on Mary Hayden was not written by myself.
It is a fact, which I mention for what it may be worth, that I do know more about Mary Hayden than anyone else in this world. First, I have a family connection, and second, I was the editor of The Diaries of Mary Hayden.
During this editorship, which took several years, I met and interviewed and researched everyone and everything to do with the women’s activist in question.
The diaries were published in five volumes in 2005, sold widely round the world, and must be known to many of your contributors. As indeed must my name, seeing as it is on the covers.
The sisterhood of writers on the women’s movement is all very well and good, but it strikes me that the time has now come where experts who happen to be men should be allowed and invited to contribute. Some of us do have an interest and a potential contribution of value. There’s little difference between a cabal of women who bar involvement of men and a golf club which treats women likewise.
This communication has nothing to do with sour grapes. I am a very busy person and probably would have resented the time to prepare an appropriate piece. But it would have been nice to have been asked.
I well know that if my given name were Miriam or Mary or Monica I wouldn’t have had to write this letter.
But it’s not, I am instead – Yours, etc,