Irish Housewives Association

The Irish Housewives Association (IHA) was an influential pressure group founded in 1942 to speak out about injustices and the needs of Irish women, inside and outside the home. It was founded by Hilda Tweedy along with Andree Sheehy-Skeffington, Susan Manning, and Louie Bennett, and initially campaigned for school meals, free travel for pensioners, and consumer protection.[1]

In 1947, the IHA affiliated to the International Alliance of Women.[1] Members of IHA, Beatrice Dixon and Kathleen Swanton began a campaign to have women serve on juries in Ireland. In 1957, Dixon went on to become the first women to serve on a jury.[2]

From 1954 until the early 1960s, the IHA was infiltrated and investigated by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid's Vigilance Committee for communist activity.[3]

In 1968, the IHA played a leading role in the setting up of the Council for the Status of Women (now the National Women's Council of Ireland).[1]

In 1992 the IHA dissolved itself.

References
  1. Hilda Tweedy obituary, Irish Times, 9 July 2005
  2. Lunney, Linde (2009). "Dixon, Beatrice Maureen". In McGuire, James; Quinn, James (eds.). Dictionary of Irish Biography. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  3. de Haan, James (2015). "McQUAID'S 'OLD GRANNY'". History Ireland. 23 (1): 42–44. doi:10.2307/43234641. JSTOR 43234641.
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