New structures needed to tackle growing acceptability of abortion

IN March 1981, the Women’s Right to Choose movement organised a public meeting in Dublin’s Liberty Hall to push the case for legalised abortion in Ireland.

Activists from the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children heard about the meeting and bussed in supporters from all over the country.

The Right to Choose people were pleased at the large attendance. Change wouldn't be long coming, they felt. Journalist Mary Holland, one of organisers, addressed the gathering. To emphasise the struggle ahead, she read out an article from another well-known journalist of the era, Des Rushe, who was vehemently anti-abortion. "That," Holland said as she finished reading the article, "is what we are up against."