Powerful women in Irish politics and media convene in Kerry

Joan Burton, Miriam O’Callaghan and Olivia O’Leary are just a few of the powerful women in politics and media who will convene in the north Kerry town of Ballybunion this weekend for the fourth annual Women in Media conference.

The acting Tánaiste will contribute to a political symposium on Saturday to address the challenges facing women in media and politics, along with broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan, Independent TD Katherine Zappone and reporter Catherine Shanahan.

That is one of the many events running all weekend at the forum to discuss the achievements and challenges of Ireland’s most influential women working in media, sport, politics and related industries.

Former Irish Times Editor Conor Brady will kick off the conference on Friday evening, followed by a round table discussion about the impact of social media in the recent General Election. Irish Times Daily Features Editor Roisin Ingle will chair the panel that includes Twitter's head of communications Julie Dilger, Facebook Ireland's head of public policy Niamh Sweeney and Patricia O'Callaghan, who headed up online coverage of the election for RTE News.

“The Producers,” a live recording of The Women’s Podcast, will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the work of women in film and television. Broadcaster and former Rose of Tralee Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin will host the discussion between Catherine Magee, producer of RTE’s Rebellion, Aoife Stokes, who produces the Claire Byrne Show and Katie Holly, managing director of Blinder Films, the production company behind The Queen of Ireland.

The Mary Cummins Award for women of outstanding achievement in media will be announced at a gala dinner on Saturday night and presented by last year’s winner, broadcaster Olivia O’Leary. The other past winners are broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan and former Irish Times Editor Geraldine Kennedy.

The late Irish Times journalist and Seanad Éireann reporter Ms Cummins inspired the event, as did another woman with strong links to Ballybunion: novelist Maeve Binchy, who spent most of her teenage summers in the town.

The Irish Times-sponsored Woman to Watch Award is a new addition to the weekend and will be given to an up-and-coming young woman in media.

The conference has broadened this year to include a discussion of women and sports journalism featuring former Irish Women’s Rugby captain Fiona Coughlan, sportswomen.ie founder Sharon Hutchinson, Fair Game podcast co-host Emily Glen and more.

Mary Harney, former tánaiste and leader of the Progressive Democrats, will address the conference on Sunday, rounding out the annual celebration of the most influential women working in the public eye.

Research published recently by global consultancy firm McKinsey, using data collected from 30,000 employees at 118 North American companies, indicated that many organisations are afflicted by one of three common pipeline blocks: women unable to enter, stuck in the middle or locked out of the top. Researchers identified the media industry one of the many sectors that struggles to promote women to top-level executive positions.

Joan O’Connor, Women in Media’s chairwoman, said the conference creates the opportunity for like-minded people to discuss the “challenges facing women working in male-dominated industries and the media as a whole”.

Organisers have been “overwhelmed by the response and willingness of Ireland’s top journalists to share their wisdom and encourage the next generation of Irish talent”.

For more information about the 2016 Women in Media programme and to register for specific events, go to womeninmedia.ie.