The School of Political Science and Sociology research seminar: ‘Researching the Public Life of Alice Cashel (1878-1958): Themes, Sources and Questions’

The School of Political Science and Sociology invite you to a research seminar with:

 Mary Clancy (Global Women’s Studies Research Cluster)

‘Researching the Public Life of Alice Cashel (1878-1958): Themes, Sources and Questions’

Abstract:

This talk examines the fractured public life of Alice Cashel, a woman known for her political roles in early twentieth century Ireland. She remains a somewhat marginalised figure, despite the prominence of her effort during the revolutionary years (e.g. c. 1914-c.1922). The absence of private papers is an obvious constraint though it is possible to construct a version of her life-story using the generous range of public records associated with her, from civil registration and census returns to travel and prison records. Records available through the Military Archives e.g. military pension application and Witness Statement provide valuable personal and political detail, as well as insight into the nature of conflict between personal remembering and public notice. In constructing an extended version of Alice Cashel’s life-story, therefore, the talk analyses the possibilities of the limited archive, as well as the intricate task of contextualising the political reputation of a woman revolutionary figure.

Mary Clancy, School of Political Science and Sociology, has written on gender, social class and citizenship, post-revolutionary Ireland and life-story research. She has contributed to university exhibitions of women graduates and public history documentaries. Publications include ‘Women of the West: campaigning for the vote in early twentieth century Galway, c.1911-c.1915’ in L. Ryan and M. Ward (eds.), Irish Women and the Vote (2018).

All Welcome!