18.30. TUC, 23 Great Russell Street, WC1B 3LS

Annually at the TUC Congress house, we have an Irish History Month event in order to commemorate the History of Irish immigrants to Britain of the last few centuries. In 2018, it will be 100 years since we have our first Woman MP owing to the success of the Suffragettes who achieved the Votes for Women. This Sinn Fein MP was Constance Gore-Booth (Countess Markievisc) and refused to take her seat. We will have a speaker on this topic. Secondly, it will be 130 years since the "Match Girls Strike" as teenage girls of Irish heritage achieved all their demands since they withdrew their labour for three days in 1888. Mary Doolin, Senior PCS Union Full Time Officer, will be speaking on the history of Irish Women in the British Trade Union movement. Lastly, it will be 150 years since the last public hanging in Britain: an Irish man called Michael Barrett, who was innocent of the Clerkenwell Prison explosions of which took place on 20th May 1868.