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Women on Walls - The Journey So Far

The Journey So Far

Women on Walls at RCSI

In 2019, RCSI, Accenture and Business to Arts unveiled a series of new portraits that recognises the pioneering achievements of a group of eight extraordinary women and aims to enhance the visibility of historical female leaders in healthcare to inspire future generations. In March 2018, artists were invited to submit a proposal to Business to Arts, project managers of the initiative. A selection committee identified six artists that were commissioned. The group of artists worked with RCSI archivists and team to research their subjects and complete the portraits. The portraits are now hanging in the Board Room of RCSI on St Stephen’s Green in Dublin’s city centre.

Women on Walls at RCSI: Our Subjects

Dr. Margaret (Pearl) Dunlevy (1909-2002)

Epidemiologist who served to eradicate tuberculosis in Ireland
Meet Dr. Margaret

Dr. (Emily) Winifred Dickson (1866-1944)

First female fellow of RCSI and medical health officer
Meet Dr. Emily

Dr. Victoria Coffey (1911-1999)

One of the first female paediatricians in Ireland
Meet Dr. Victoria

Dean Mary Frances Crowley (1906-1990)

First Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, RCSI
Meet Dean Mary Frances

Sr. Dr. Maura Lynch (1938-2017)

Surgeon who revolutionised obstetric fistula care in Uganda
Meet Sr. Dr. Maura

Dr. Barbara Maive Stokes (1922-2009)

Paediatrician and pioneering disability campaigner
Meet Dr. Barbara

Dr. Mary Josephine Hannon (1859-1936)

First woman both to train and to qualify at RCSI
Meet Dr. Mary Josephine

Dr. Mary Somerville Parker Strangman (1872-1943)

Doctor, suffragist and elected councillor
Dr. Mary Somerville

Women on Walls at RCSI: The Podcast

Listen to the eight-part podcast series celebrating the lives of these Irish women who forged careers in healthcare at a time in Ireland when women were expected to stay at home.

Women on Walls at RCSI: Commissioned Artists

In March 2018, artists were invited to submit a proposal to Business to Arts. A selection committee identified six artists who worked with RCSI archivists and team to research their subjects and complete the portraits

William Nathans

Subject: Dean Mary Frances Crowley

Catherine Creaney

Subject: Dr Barbara Maive Stokes

Mick O’Dea

Subjects: Dr Mary Somerville Parker Strangman, Dr (Emily) Winifred Dickson

Benita Stoney

Subject: Dr Margaret (Pearl) Dunlevy

Enda Griffin

Subject: Sr Dr Maura Lynch

Molly Judd

Subjects: Dr Mary Josephine Hannan, Dr Victoria Coffey

Women on Walls at the Royal Irish Academy

In 2016, Accenture in partnership with the Royal Irish Academy, commissioned five portraits of leading female academics. The finished artworks are on public display in the Royal Irish Academy, the first portraits of female subjects to grace the walls in the Academy’s 230-year history. The five portraits were unveiled at a special event on 7th December 2016 and consist of four individual portraits of the first four female Members of the Royal Irish Academy, elected in 1949. The fifth portrait is a group portrait of eight female scientists, who are recipients of the European Research Council Starter Grants 2012 – 2015 and were chosen as representatives of a generation of outstanding young female scientists working in Ireland today.

Women on Walls at RIA: Our Subjects

Sheila Tinney (1918 – 2010)

Pioneer in the field of mathematical physics
Meet Sheila

Françoise Henry (1902 – 1982)

One of the most important twentieth-century historians of Irish art
Meet Françoise

Phyllis Clinch (1901 – 1984)

Award-winning scientist world renowned for her innovative research into plant viruses
Meet Phyllis

Eleanor Knott (1886-1975)

Pathbreaking researcher of classical Irish literature and D.Litt. honoris causa recipient
Meet Eleanor

Dr Aoife Gowen

Investigates how contact with water contributes to fouling or degradation of various synthetic materials
Meet Dr Aoife

Professor Catríona Lally

Principal investigator of degenerative cardiovascular diseases
Meet Professor Catríona

Professor Aoife McLysaght

One of Ireland’s leading geneticists
Meet Professor Aoife

Professor Deborah Laefer

Researcher of damage prevention to buildings above tunnel excavation
Meet Professor Deborah

Professor Emma Teeling

A world authority on bat genetics
Meet Professor Emma

Professor Lydia Lynch

Pioneer of research identifying a type of cell that protects against obesity and the metabolic syndrome
Meet Professor Lydia

Dr Maria McNamara

A landmark dinosaur discovery researcher
Meet Dr Maria

Professor Sarah McCormack

Explores photovoltaic panels which convert solar energy into direct current electricity
Meet Professor Sarah

Women on Walls at RIA: The Documentary

Due to the level of public interest and historical significance of our campaign, a documentary was commissioned to tell the story of Women on Walls at the Royal Irish Academy.

Women on Walls at RIA: Commissioned Artists

The RIA open call to artists was managed by Business to Arts and elicited an impressive response. The judging panel tasked with the challenge of selecting the artists comprised leading figures in the Irish business and arts communities.

Blaise Smith

Subjects: Professors Deborah Laefer, Aoife McLysaght, Emma Teeling, Sarah McCormack, Catríona Lally, Lydia Lynch. Doctors Aoife Gowen, Maria McNamara.

Vera Klute

Subjects: Sheila Tinney, Françoise Henry, Phyllis Clinch, Eleanor Knott

Media Coverage

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