Cork County Council’s Womens Caucus Hosts Special Workshop for Women in Local Government

Valerie O’Sullivan, Chief Executive Cork County Council; Kerry Cullen, Senior Business Psychologist SEVEN Psychology; Mags Donovan, Cork County Council; Dr. Clíodhna McKenzie, Lecturer School of Management and Marketing UCC; Susana Marambio, President of Network Ireland Cork; Nicola Radley, Director of Services Cork County Council; Dr. Mary E. Collins, Senior Executive Development Specialist RCSI Institute of Leadership and Cllr Eileen Lynch, Chair Cork County Council’s Womens Caucus.

A special workshop designed to recruit, represent and retain women in local government was recently held in Cork County Hall.  Featuring several notable speakers, Cork County Council’s Women’s Caucus hope the event will not only support the retention of women currently in Council but will also serve to represent and recruit women into local government.  

The government’s Oireachtas Caucus was established in 2017 and is a cross-party forum for Irish women parliamentarians to discuss and campaign on issues predominantly affecting women.  As part of a more gender equal society, the vision of the Women’s Caucus is an Ireland where there is equal representation of women and men in the Oireachtas and on city and county councils.  

The first Women’s Caucus in Cork County Council was established in 2022, just a little over 100 years since Irish women were permitted by law to vote and stand in parliamentary elections, with the objective of addressing the ongoing under representation of women in local government.

Cllr Eileen Lynch, Chair of Cork County Council’s Women’s caucus, in addressing the packed room, highlighted how, 

Our caucus has been especially established to welcome more women into politics.  I want women to know that they will be treated equally and supported through cross party collaboration and cooperation.  Interestingly, at 32% female representation, Cork County Council is at the higher end of local authorities in Ireland as regards moving towards gender equality.  While encouraging increased participation of women and people of diversity is essential, if equality is to be truly achieved, the retention of existing female Councillors is of vital importance.

The workshop, which centered around the values of Cork County Council’s Womens Caucus, namely gender equality, solidarity, diversity and democracy, featured a range of speakers including Susana Marambio, President of Network Cork, Dr. Cliodhna McKenzie, UCC’s School of Management & Marketing and Dr. Mary Collins RCSI Institute of Leadership.      

Cork County Council’s first female Chief Executive, Valerie O’Sullivan, also spoke and highlighted how, 

Local government, much like any other sector, thrives when it reflects the rich tapestry of our communities. We must champion diversity and inclusivity, not merely as buzzwords, but as an integral part of our commitment to effective governance. Our Women’s Caucus plays a pivotal role in fostering this diversity. It provides a platform for women to connect, share experiences and support one another. It's not just about breaking the glass ceiling; it's about creating a network of support that helps us all rise together.