The first time I became aware of feminism was during my first year of a communications course in Rathmines College. Our class was discussing female characters in movies, and a male student made a comment about women being nicer than men in real life. The girls in the class scoffed at his statement, emphasizing that women can be just as mean, nasty, and conniving as men. At that time, women were not allowed to misbehave, but men could rebel and challenge the system. Women were expected to cheer from the sidelines while men took action.
During this course, we had the privilege of being taught by Pat Murphy, Ireland’s only female filmmaker at that time, and she showed us remarkable films made by female directors. This opened up a whole new world for me and made me realize the unfair treatment that women had been subjected to. It made me reflect on my own prejudices and perceptions of women.
My education on feminism continued after college when I joined a feminist theatre company called Glasshouse. We performed a play about rape that was based on the writer’s personal experience. I played the role of the rapist, and I remember feeling disturbed during a rehearsal when an RTÉ film crew made a disrespectful comment about the main protagonist. This comment reminded me of the teenage behavior we all engage in to fit in with our peers. It emphasized the pressure men felt to be macho and derogatory.
Fortunately, in the thirty years since then, attitudes towards women have shifted, and men no longer feel as much pressure to conform to toxic masculinity. There is a growing recognition of female sexuality and women’s right to enjoy sex as much as men. The old stereotype of women needing to “lie back and think of Ireland” is being challenged.
In the past, Irish women were often expected to conform to traditional roles, such as being housewives. However, many women refused to conform, such as Rosemary Smith, who broke into the male-dominated world of rally driving. Tennis was one of the few sports where women received similar treatment as men, thanks to campaigns led by Billie Jean King and others. This summer, women’s sports have gained unprecedented popularity, with the Women’s World Cup attracting huge audiences and players like Katie McCabe becoming household names.
In line with the changing perceptions of women in sports, I have written a new film called Tarrac, which celebrates the tenacity and passion of women in sports. The film revolves around rowing, with an all-female four-person crew competing for the Munster Naomhóg rowing title. The story also explores themes of home and personal issues that can hinder their journey to success.
Tarrac was funded by the TG4 Cine4 scheme and aims to authentically represent the people and places of Ireland while telling a universal story. It is a story that I hope my former college lecturer, Pat Murphy, and Lelia Doolan, the force behind the communications course, get to see. Tarrac is a tribute to the bold spirit they embodied and inspired in all of us.
This uplifting and emotionally charged film deserves to be seen on the big screen, with its committed performances and stunning visuals. Tarrac will be released in cinemas on October 6th. Stay tuned for a captivating celebration of women’s strength and resilience in the world of sports.
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