Prof. Laura Kelly (University of Strathclyde):

‘The Anti-Abortion Movement in Ireland, c.1972-92’

Thursday 22 May 2025, 6pm, at PRONI.

This lecture explores the history of anti-abortion activism in Ireland from the early 1970s to the early 1990s. Utilising oral history interviews with activists and a range of rich archival sources including anti-abortion publications, government archives, diocesan records and contemporary newspapers, it traces the history of one of the most significant social movements in Ireland. Drawing on approaches from the history of emotions, oral history, and gender history, it discusses show how and why the anti-abortion movement gained such strength in 1970s and 1980s Ireland, what motivated ‘ordinary’ people to get involved in it, the campaigns and strategies of activists, and what its success and ultimate decline reveal about wider changes in Irish society. I will argue that transnational networks, particularly between Irish and American activists, were crucial to the success of the movement in its early years. Ultimately, by illuminating the experiences, motivations, and strategies of anti-abortion activists, this paper helps to better contextualise the wider battle around reproductive rights in Ireland, and the ongoing legacy of this activism.

The J.C. Beckett Annual Lecture is hosted by the Ulster Society for Irish Historical Studies. This is a free public event, all welcome.

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-anti-abortion-movement-in-ireland-c1972-92-tickets-1291413485499