International Women's Day 2012 celebrated on 8th March was a great success. Many women of different ages, nationalities and cultures marked the occasion here in the TWRC by getting involved in the different activities that were lined up for the day. The morning began with a card making class which due to popularity will be held again in the near future. After that there was a story telling session where women told humorous and interesting stories and tales of times gone by. In the afternoon, there was a crochet demonstration class and a talk on nutrition both of which went down well with everyone. In the evening there was massage and threading (an Eastern alternative to waxing) and the henna tattoos proved very popular with the younger people! It was a great day with far too much tea and cake consumed but well worth it!!!

Women are welcome to come in to Tralee Women's Centre at any time to breast feed and we will make a space available for them if at all possible.

The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD, today (Monday, 26th September 2011) opened the week-long 'Frontiers in Poverty Measurement' Summer School in the Geary Institute, UCD. The Summer School is funded by the Department of Social Protection through its Social Inclusion Research Innovation Awards (SIRIA), which is managed on behalf of the Department by the Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS)1 as part of its Research Development Initiative (RDI) 2010. The aim of the SIRIA is to promote research excellence and innovation on poverty and social exclusion among third level institutions.

Minister Burton said: "In the current economic climate, it is essential to have good poverty measurement techniques as well as robust data and evidence from poverty research, helping us to know what to target, when and how to ensure that the most vulnerable are protected. The Summer School is timely and relevant as it will help participants, including both early-stage researchers as well as relevant personnel from public sector bodies and NGOs, gain an in-depth knowledge on these issues."

The 'Frontiers in Poverty Measurement' Summer School is led by Chris Whelan and involves other UCD staff including Brian Nolan; the ESRI; NUI Galway and Queen's University Belfast. The summer school will explore the conceptual and methodological aspects of poverty research, as well as highlight some of the most critical emerging issues for Ireland.

The summer school is intended to significantly develop and enhance participants' understanding of the most important challenges in researching poverty, with particular emphasis on empirical evidence and methodological concerns. Participants will become familiar with the main data sources suitable for each of the thematic areas covered by the summer school, both national and comparative.

In addition, qualitative methodological approaches will be introduced as a valuable complement to the main quantitative focus. Lecturers on the course are leading experts in the field from both Ireland and the UK, including David Gordon (University of Bristol), Brian Nolan, David Madden & Christopher T. Whelan (UCD), Bertrand Maître & Richard Layte (ESRI), Mike Tomlinson & Madeleine Leonard (QUB), Alan Barrett (TCD) & Thomas Scharf (NUIG).

Minister Burton also highlighted how supporting research excellence and innovation through the SIRIA allows for a longer-term focus, to examine the impacts of the economic recession into the future; to determine if current poverty measurement techniques are adequate over time, as wider societal, economic, political and cultural dynamics change; to provide evidence e.g. of good practice and latent or emerging policy questions; and to suggest potential solutions to these policy issues.

All material, including presentations, reading material and discussions from the 'Frontiers in Poverty Measurement' Summer School will be available on 'www.ucd.ie/appsocsc/http:/www.ucd.ie/appsocsc/news.htm/frontiersinpovertyresearchsummerschool/'.

Reflexology proved to be just what the doctor ordered at the Love Your Mind and Body course at TWRC. Martina McAuliffe spoke about the origins of the treatment and developments through the years, before she, Brid Ann O'Connor and Eileen O'Driscoll treated each of the women present to a hand reflexology session. Participants were also given some tips on how to use some of the techniques themselves. This week saw Anita Quilligan, one of the Traveller Community Health Workers, delivering a talk on the food pyramid followed by some delicious smoothies.

The joint programme run by Tralee Women's Resource Centre and Kerry Travellers Development Project would like to thank the speakers to date for making the programme such a success. Anyone, who would like to experience reflexology for themselves can contact Martina McAuliffe, Duagh, Listowel at 087 979 5399, Brid Ann O'Connor, Currans, Farranfore on 086 1018513 or Eileen O'Driscoll Hollymount, Kells Bay, on 087 247 1750 or www.eileenreflexology.com

Next week Sheila King from the HSE will talk about Nutrition...with particular emphasis on nutrition at different stages of a woman's life.

Next Thursday 15th September sees the launch of our new 8 week health course taking place at the TWRC. For an hour each Thursday from 10am-11am participants will get a taste of Reflexology, Indian Head Massage, Bach Flower Remedies, Nutrition, and healthy cooking. For more information see files below. The programme is a joint initiative with Kerry Travellers and promises to be an exciting introduction to women's health.

Longford Women’s Manifesto Group was formed two years when women in the county felt alienated from local politics and dissatisfied with decision making processes. Women, within households, communities and society, do not have the same access to and control over resources, they have different needs and priorities to men and can be impacted differently by changes in their community. Furthermore, as at national level, women and women’s voices are underrepresented within political and decision making structures at local level, making up approx 15% of representatives.

With the support of Longford Women’s Link, the Women’s Manifesto Group was established with the aim of bringing women’s perspective to local decision-making fora.

Roll out of Model

The Women’s Manifesto Group has established a recognised model for women’s engagement with County Councils, Council Services, decision-makers, etc, at local level. Given the success of this project to date this model is now ready to roll out across other counties in Ireland. (Funding for the rollout of this model has been secured from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust.)

If you are a women’s organisation, women’s group, and/or collective/individual women and interested in establishing a similar structure in your own area, or with any questions in relation to this project, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Please contact the Women’s Manifesto Project Development Officer at eilishcorcoran@longfordwomenslink.org or on 043-3341511.

Equality Then and Now - 2011 Parnell Summer School 11 August 2011 - 19 August 2011

Venue Avondale House and Conference Hall, near Rathdrum, Co Wicklow

The year 2011 marks the centenary of the death of Anna Parnell (1852-1911), leader of the Ladies Land League and a sister of Charles Stewart Parnell. This year's summer school will commemorate Anna Parnell by exploring the theme of Equality, both its importance in the Ireland - indeed the world - of today and its relevance to her life. Anna believed in women's equality and in the need for minority groups to act forcefully to accomplish political aims. The Parnell Summer School will address the theme of Equality as it relates to women, children, and a range of groups within society.

NWCI CEO, Susan McKay, and Salome Mbugua, deputy chair of the NWCI, will be taking part in a panel discussion on the issue of Women and Equality one hundred years after Anna Parnell's death.at 2.15pm on Thursday, August 18th at Avondale House and Conference Hall, near Rathdrum, Co Wicklow.

The issue of prostitution and sex trafficking in Ireland will be highlighted by the Immigrant Council of Ireland's Anti-Trafficking Project Coordinator Nusha Yonkova. The chair for the discussion is Dr Margaret Ward of Belfast's Women's Resource and Development Agency.

LGBT Diversity is undertaking a Parenthood Survey. The survey seeks to identify the experiences and needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) parents and those planning to be parents in Ireland. This is the first time that a study of this nature has been carried out in Ireland.

The findings will be published and widely disseminated to Government and relevant State bodies, NGOs and advocacy groups, both mainstream and LGBT, to assist them in effecting positive change for LGBT parents and those planning parenthood. The study findings will be shared with all LGBT organisations in Ireland and in particular support groups and organisations to assist them in meeting the needs of the community.

You are invited to participate in this anonymous survey if you:

• ·         Identify as a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender person.
• ·         Are a parent or are planning to be a parent. (The term parent includes biological and non-biological parents, guardians, adoptive parents and foster parents, living with or separately from our child/children of all ages)
• ·         Aged 18 years and over
• ·         Living in the Republic of Ireland

You can undertake the survey at http://www.lgbtdiversity.com/parenthood_survey_2011.aspx

The Commission of Investigation Report into the Catholic Diocese of Cloyne was published on 13th July 2011. The information below outlines the details of the dedicated helpdesk established by the HSE in co-operation with a number of support organisations. This helpdesk number - 1800 742800 - is available from 8.00am to 12 midnight daily for those affected by the publication of the Cloyne report.

The HSE acknowledges that the publication of this report may prompt other adult survivors of childhood abuse to come forward, perhaps for the first time.