Cork County Council’s Library Service have a series of events on offer to mark this year’s International Women’s Day which takes place on Tuesday 8th March 2022. Libraries throughout the county will be organising book and information displays, as well as some special events aimed at celebrating and supporting women.

• A Women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) “Engineering as a Future Career” online talk for secondary school students will take place on Tuesday 8^th March. The event coincides with Engineers Week and will feature Cork County Council Senior Executive Engineers, Mary Flynn and Denise McCarthy. 
• A selection of photographs and short articles by female librarians working in Rural, Gaeltacht and Island libraries will be shared on the Cork County Library Service social media channels throughout the day. The stories will impart what is special about rural libraries in County Cork and the communities that they serve. 
• Dr. Caoimhe Hartley will host an online information session on Menopause on Wednesday 9^th March. Menopause affects every woman at some point in her life, yet despite the fact that 50% of the world population experience it, there is a lack of understanding and information available. This Healthy Ireland talk will include an opportunity for women to have their own questions answered.
• A Flash Fiction short story competition for adults is currently open for entries. The theme of “They Told Her It Was Impossible” can be used as a title or an opening line in the story. Details and entry forms are available on the Library section of the Council’s website or at your local library and entries close on March 31^st.

The special International Women’s Day events will complement the year-round women’s support programmes offered by the Library Service, such as Work Matters and Healthy Ireland talks and reading material on specific areas including career development and women’s health.

Welcoming International Women’s Day and the opportunity to celebrate gender equality, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan said:

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day campaign “Break The Bias” aims to create a world that is more inclusive, celebrating differences, while acknowledging women’s creativity and achievements.  I am privileged to sit alongside 15 female Councillors on Cork County Council, who are amongst the many strong and inspirational women in my life. As a teacher and a mother, I want to see a society that strives for gender parity in all aspects of life.  We must make a collective effort to bring this about, stand firmly against bias and celebrate equality in all its forms.

Follow Cork County Library and Arts Service on social media for updates or email  [email protected] for information and event registration.

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