Barbara O’Driscoll: As well as supporting survivors, we must tackle the causes of violence against women

Mná Feasa leader writes that Ireland must provide more accessible services for women who have been abused — but we must also work harder to root out embedded misogyny and inequality

Mná Feasa team leader Barbara O'Driscoll with founding members Ann O'Mahony, Mary O'Connell, Sheila Lee, and Máire Dorgan, at St Mary's Health Campus, Gurranabraher, Cork.  Picture: Michael O'Sullivan/OSM 

At Mná Feasa Women’s Domestic Violence Project, we meet women from all walks of life. Domestic violence and other forms of abuse have no boundaries. It does not matter how old you are, where you are from, or what you do for a living — domestic violence can have an impact on everyone.

Founded in 1991, Mná Feasa — meaning ‘Wise Women’ in Irish — has supported thousands of women through a comprehensive range of services, including a helpline, one-on-one counselling, support groups, and court accompaniment.