What can you discover in the pages of the Irish Newspaper Archives? In this series of blog posts, we take a look back at events in August from Irish history. Whether it be the story of the nation or your own family history, the Irish Newspaper Archive is sure to provide the information.

In August 1912 the Irish Women's Suffrage Federation as a means of bringing together the various suffrage movements and personnel then active in Ireland. Amid this growing demand for voting rights for women, the pages of The Irish Citizen promoted the activities of the Irish Women's Suffrage Federation and other such groups. In August 1912 it reported on a wide variety of activities from all across Ireland.

These included the Irish Women’s Suffrage and Local Government Association led by Anna Haslam; the Irish Women's Franchise League who's secretary was Mrs Cousins; the Irish Women’s Suffrage Society led by Mrs Blanche; the Conservative and Unionist Women’s Suffrage Association led by Miss Perry; the Irish Woman’s Suffrage Federation led by Miss; the Irish Woman's Reform League; the Belfast Women's Suffrage Society; the Munster Women's Franchise League; the Newry Suffrage Society; the Lisburn Suffrage Society;  the Birr Suffrage Society and the Armagh Suffrage Society amongst others.

A glimpse at events from August 1912 highlight the vast network of suffrage societies which existed throughout Ireland at this time. For example meetings took place at Custom House, Dublin organized by the Irish Women's Franchise League at Islandmagee; at the Phoenix Park, Dublin; at the Methodist College in Belfast and another open air meeting at Custom House, Dublin. All of these societies and their members would play an influential role in the development of social, economic and political matters in Ireland in the decade that followed. For more on the role of suffrage societies in Ireland see the pages of the Irish Newspaper

Twitter: The rise of suffrage societies across #Ireland was a major development 110 years ago this month #irishhistory #ireland #localhistory

Download  The Irish Citizen 1912-1920, Saturday, August 24, 1912, page 7