Acts of Defiance, Rose Comiskey (Pre-order)

“The images of protest taken by Rose Comiskey between 1984 and 1992 are vibrant
records created by an activist photographer from within the movement. When coupled
with the personal testimony of her fellow agitators this book presents a cogent and
compelling picture of a period of political and social turmoil in Ireland…'Acts of Defiance'
is both a lasting record of past achievements and a blueprint for how to enact future
change.” From the foreword by Orla Fitzpatrick.

The period from the early 1980s to early 1990s was a decade of dissent in Ireland. The
Irish women’s movement and the ongoing campaign for reproductive rights were central
to this dissent. Irish women were also actively involved in protesting on other fronts
including Ronald Reagan’s visit to Ireland and the Dunnes Stores strike against apartheid-
era South African goods.

'Acts of Defiance' collects Rose Comiskey’s striking photographs of these protests. The
voices of the Irish women who participated in these struggles, both voluntarily and
involuntarily, appear alongside the photographs and testify to the power of friendship,
community and resilience in the face of injustice and inequality.

The book includes contributions from:
Ivana Bacik, Ursula Barry, Caroline Butler, Therese Caherty, Pauline Conroy, Anne Conway, Chrissy Donoghue-Ward, Mary Duffy, Maeve Foreman, Ita Gannon, Marese Hegarty, Mary Hennessey, Ruth Jacob, Carmel Jennings, Freda Keeshan, Carol Lanigan, Anne Maguire, Paula Meehan, Rosemary McCluskey, Maura Molloy, Theresa Mooney, Cris Mulvey, Patricia Prendiville, Mary O’Connell, Deirdre Quinlan, Sue Russell, and Kate Shanahan.