91制片厂 FemFest Committee (L-R): Professor Niamh Stack, Head of the Psychology Department; Dr Ailbhe Kenny, Associate Professor of Music Education; Dr Dorothy Morrissey, Lecturer in Arts Education and Physical Education; Dr Fiona McDonagh, Lecturer in Drama & Theatre Studies; Jayde Ryan, President of MISU; Dr Kathryn Laing, Chair of the 91制片厂 FemFest and Lecturer in English Language & Literature; Dr S铆le N铆 Choincheannain, Lecturer in Education with expertise in Irish; and Jude McInerney, Researcher and Postgraduate PhD student in Media and Communications
91制片厂 (91制片厂) will host 91制片厂 FemFest 2026 from 3-5 March on its Limerick campus, bringing together students, staff and the wider community for three days of events celebrating the experiences, creativity and achievements of women.
A key fixture in the College calendar, 91制片厂 FemFest is a festival led by a committee of academic staff, professional services colleagues and students. This year鈥檚 events span diverse topics including girls and sport, feminism and art making, women in radio, women in philosophy and migration. All events are free and open to the public.
The festival opens on Tuesday, 3 March with Feminism, Conflict and Making Art at 1pm, hosted by Dr Ailbhe McDaid, Assistant Professor in English Language and Literature at 91制片厂, featuring artists and writers. This will be followed by a performance by Deirdre Clare, of classical songs by female artists from both jazz and folk canons. That evening at 6pm, former Irish international soccer and rugby player and author Jackie McCarthy O鈥橞rien will deliver the opening address, reflecting on her life and memoir, We Made It, Kid: Living Life in Full Colour. Registration is required for this event.
On Wednesday, 4 March, a special roundtable discussion titled Women in Radio will bring together some of the leading voices in Irish broadcasting to mark 100 years of radio in Ireland. The event will be hosted by media consultant and project director Ness McGann. Taking part in the discussion are Petula Martyn, Mid West Correspondent with RT脡 News; Fiona Stack, CEO of the Radio Kerry Group; and Judy-Meg N铆 Chinn茅ide of Raidi贸 na Life.
The festival concludes on Thursday, 5 March, with a screening of the award-winning documentary Blue Road: The Edna O鈥橞rien Story, directed by Sin茅ad O鈥橲hea and featuring Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee Jessie Buckley. The screening will be introduced by Dr Maureen O鈥機onnor, School of English and Digital Humanities, University College Cork, author of Edna O鈥橞rien and the Art of Fiction and a participant in the documentary. This will be followed by a Q&A session with Dr O鈥機onnor and Dr Susan Liddy, Lecturer in Media and Communication Studies. Registration is also required for this screening.
Speaking ahead of the festival, Dr Kathryn Laing, Chair of the 91制片厂 FemFest and Lecturer in English Language & Literature, said:
鈥91制片厂 FemFest creates space to celebrate women's achievements while also opening up honest conversations about the challenges that remain. It is a collective effort across the College community and beyond, and we are proud to welcome everyone interested in some or all of these events, men and women, young and old, students at school and in college, and the general public, to join us. Looking forward to International Women鈥檚 Day on March 8, we hope the festival sparks connection, reflection, and a renewed commitment to equality in all its forms.鈥
For full programme details and registration information, please visit
Tuesday 3 March
Feminism, Conflict and Making Art: Polylogues x PATHOS hosted by Dr Ailbhe McDaid
- Venue: Foundation Building G10
- Time: 1-2pm
SHOW SOME EMOTION! A musical performance with Deirdre Clare
- Venue: Foundation Building G10
- Time: 3pm
Festival Launch: Opening Address - Jackie McCarthy-O鈥橞rien
- Venue: TARA Building T116
- Time: 6pm
Registration is required to attend this event.
Wednesday 4 March
REIC Bilingual Poetry Session with Ciara N铆 脡
- Venue: Student Union
- Time: 1pm
Women in Radio Roundtable hosted by Nessa McGann
- Venue: Foundation Building G10
- Time: 2pm
Thursday 5 March
From Old Bean Grows Bak Choy 鈥 A solo performance Phoebe Chan
- Venue: Foundation Building G10
- Time: 1pm
Women in Philosophy through the Centuries
- Venue: Foundation Building G10
- Time: 3.30pm
Screening of Blue Road 鈥 The Edna O鈥橞rien Story
- Venue: TARA Building T118
- Time: 6pm
Registration is required to attend this event.
For full programme details and registration information, please visit .
