How The Yes Was Won

How The Yes Was Won

By Aisling Dolan, Deirdre Kelly, Emma Callaghan, Tara Lonij, Davy QuinlivanSociety & Culture
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How The Yes Was Won episodes

  • Episode 10: Cling Film

    This episode of How The Yes Was Won is a collection of stories we heard during our interviews that we loved, but just didn't fit in any other episode. We hope you like them as much as we did!


    Stories are from Mary Ryder, Anne Connolly, Mary Gordon, Mary McDermott, Ursula Barry and Catherine Coffey O'Brien.

    If you would like to help increase access to abortion in Ireland and elsewhere, please consider donating to the Abortion Support Network.

    Donate to Abortion Support Network


    Written and edited by Deirdre Kelly and Aisling Dolan. Narrated by Aisling Dolan. Produced by Deirdre Kelly, Aisling Dolan, Emma Callaghan, Tara Lonij, Davy Quinlivan


    Logo: designed by Fintan Wall,  featuring Maser's Repeal heart   

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    15 min
  • Episode 9: No One Left Behind

    In the final episode of How The Yes Was Won, we cover the day of the referendum results. We talk about the mixed emotions from everyone on the day, and the infamous "quiet revolution" quote from Leo Varadkar. We also look at the failures of the current legislation, and how we now need to push for more as it comes up for review. We speak about some of the other areas of injustice in Ireland that we now need to focus on, and hope you agree. Links to additional resources are below.


    We spoke with Anne Connolly, Alison Spillane, Anita Byrne, Cathie Shiels, Eddie Conlon, Emily Waszak, Ivana Bacik, Linda Kavanagh, Mary Gordon, Mary McAuliffe, Mary McDermott, Mary Ryder, Maeve Taylor, Niall Behan, Sam Blanckensee, Sarah Monaghan, Sean O’Brien, and Ursula Barry for this series.

    If you would like to help increase access to abortion in Ireland and elsewhere, please consider donating to the Abortion Support Network.

    Donate to Abortion Support Network


    Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018
    ARC Submission on Abortion Legislation
    In Our Shoes - Covid Pregnancy
    Together For Safety
    Alliance for Choice


    Written and edited by Deirdre Kelly and Aisling Dolan. Narrated by Aisling Dolan. Produced by Deirdre Kelly, Aisling Dolan, Emma Callaghan, Tara Lonij, Davy Quinlivan



    Logo: designed by Fintan Wall,  featuring Maser's Repeal heart 

    Support the Show.

    32 min
  • Episode 8: Vote Yes

    In this episode of How The Yes Was Won, we cover the formation of Together For Yes, the national campaign to organise for a Yes vote in the referendum on Repeal. We spoke to activists involved in the campaign, from head office to canvassers on the ground, and discuss the many ways in which people were excluded from it. We also cover how the Irish Media denigrated the campaign from the outset, never really understanding the power of grassroots activism. Links to additional resources are below.



    A clarification. There is a point that’s been interpreted as blaming Together for Yes or ARC for writing non-inclusive legislation. We want to make sure everyone knows that this was not the intention of the interviewee or us, and that FG are to blame, not those groups. We want to make sure everyone knows that activists groups unfortunately do not get to say what goes into legislation, and to thank the people who brought this miscommunication to our attention. Some context was lost in editing and we sincerely apologize for that. Our greater point was not that we could choose or write the legislation, but rather that the campaign did choose who was included in the conversation, and that that did have a knock on effect. We’ll go into that in more detail in episode 9, but just want to clear that point up. 


    If you would like to help increase access to abortion in Ireland and elsewhere, please consider donating to the Abortion Support Network.

    Donate to Abortion Support Network


    Together For Yes
    In Her Shoes Women of the Eighth: A Memoir and Anthology by Erin Darcy

    Written and edited by Deirdre Kelly and Aisling Dolan. Narrated by Aisling Dolan. Produced by Deirdre Kelly, Aisling Dolan, Emma Callaghan, Tara Lonij, Davy Quinlivan

    Logo: designed by Fintan Wall,  featuring Maser's Repeal heart 

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    1 hr
  • Episode 7: Repeal!

    In this episode of How The Yes Was Won, we cover the rising campaign to demand a referendum to Repeal the 8th from 2012 onwards, and some of the changes that took place in Irish society that helped pave the way for this. More and more Pro-Choice groups were forming around the country, and momentum was building. Links to additional resources are below.


    We spoke with Sarah Monaghan, Anita Byrne, Cathie Shiels, Alison Spillane and Emily Waszak for this episode.

    If you would like to help increase access to abortion in Ireland and elsewhere, please consider donating to the Abortion Support Network.

    Donate to Abortion Support Network


    Strike for Repeal
    The Murder That Created The Dublin Pride Parade
    The Citizens' Assembly
    Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution

    Written and edited by Deirdre Kelly and Aisling Dolan. Narrated by Aisling Dolan. Produced by Deirdre Kelly, Aisling Dolan, Emma Callaghan, Tara Lonij, Davy Quinlivan


    Logo: designed by Fintan Wall,  featuring Maser's Repeal heart

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    28 min
  • Episode 6: Never Again

    Content Warning: In this episode, we will cover the story of Savita Halappanavar, Miss P and Miss Y. These stories include grotesque medical mistreatment, sexual assault, and death. Listener discretion is advised throughout.


    In October 2012, just one month after the first March for Choice, Savita Halappanavar died in a Galway hospital after being refused an abortion. Her story forever changed the conversation around abortion access in Ireland. In this episode, we will talk about her and the other stories that became public around this time, highlighting the barbarity of the 8th Amendment. We also cover the introduction of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act, and how it's obvious failures only served to make activists more determined to Repeal the 8th. Links to additional resources are below.

    We spoke with Emily Waszak, Alison Spillane, Maeve Taylor, Eddie Conlon for this episode.

    If you would like to help increase access to abortion in Ireland and elsewhere, please consider donating to the Abortion Support Network.

    Donate to Abortion Support Network


    Dublin remembers Savita with a 'Never Again' march, The Hindu, 18 November 2012

    Thousands march in Dublin over abortion rights, The Guardian 17 November 2012
    Savita Halappanavar - Irish embassy protest over death, BBC, 16 November 2012
    Abortion Rights Campaign archive entries for PLDPA
    UN: Irish abortion law treats women as 'vessels', Irish Examiner 16 July 2014 


    Written and edited by Deirdre Kelly and Aisling Dolan. Narrated by Aisling Dolan. Produced by Deirdre Kelly, Aisling Dolan, Emma Callaghan, Tara Lonij, Davy Quinlivan



    Logo: designed by Fintan Wall,  featuring Maser's Repeal heart  

    Support the Show.

    31 min
  • Episode 5: ...Legislate!

    In this episode of How The Yes Was Won, we cover how 20 years on from the referenda following The X Case, there was still no legislation to make it practicable. In 2012, a new generation of activists who had grown up under the 8th Amendment were spurred into action by a campaign of anti-choice posters erected all over the country by Youth Defence. We also cover the A,B and C cases, three women who took the country to the European Court of Human Rights to demand justice for how they had been treated under the 8th Amendment. Links to additional resources are below.


    We spoke with Niall Behan, Maeve Taylor, Alison Spillane and Cathie Shiels for this episode.

    If you would like to help increase access to abortion in Ireland and elsewhere, please consider donating to the Abortion Support Network.

    Donate to Abortion Support Network


    Order allowing girl to travel for abortion upheld by court

    Miss D and the Irish abortion debate

    March for Choice 2012


    Written and edited by Deirdre Kelly and Aisling Dolan. Narrated by Aisling Dolan. Produced by Deirdre Kelly, Aisling Dolan, Emma Callaghan, Tara Lonij, Davy Quinlivan


    Logo: designed by Fintan Wall,  featuring Maser's Repeal heart  

    Support the Show.

    26 min
  • Episode 4: Let Her Go

    Content Warning: This episode includes mentions of the sexual assault of a minor. We don't go into detail, but it may be distressing for some listeners, and listener discretion is advised.


    On this episode of How The Yes Was Won, we cover The X Case, the first real challenge to the 8th Amendment. We cover how this case led to widespread public demonstrations, and culminated in the public voting in 3 additional referenda on the same day to increase access to abortion, and information on abortion services overseas. We also cover how in 2002, conservative politicians attempted to rollback on these referenda, despite the fact that none of it had been made practicable by legislation. Links to additional resources are below.

    We spoke with Dr Ursula Barry, Mary Ryder, and Niall Behan for this episode.

    If you would like to help increase access to abortion in Ireland and elsewhere, please consider donating to the Abortion Support Network.

    Donate to Abortion Support Network

    RTÉ report from the X case protest march 

    Written and edited by Deirdre Kelly and Aisling Dolan. Narrated by Aisling Dolan. Produced by Deirdre Kelly, Aisling Dolan, Emma Callaghan, Tara Lonij, Davy Quinlivan


    Logo: designed by Fintan Wall,  featuring Maser's Repeal heart  

    Support the Show.

    26 min
  • Episode 3: 6794700

    On this episode we discuss how S.P.U.C weaponised the 8th Amendment to go much farther than Pro-Choice activists had anticipated, bringing legal action against anyone who was giving information out about how to access abortion in the UK and other countries. The only way forward for activists at the time was to set up an anonymous phone line to help those in crisis get the information they so desperately needed. We spoke with Mary Gordon and Mary Ryder about their struggles both spreading the number, and answering the calls.

    We also spoke to Senator Ivana Bacik about how she and other Students Union members were taken to court over their publishing of this phone number in student guidebooks.

    If you would like to help increase access to abortion in Ireland and elsewhere, please consider donating to the Abortion Support Network.

    Donate to Abortion Support Network


    http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1861/act/100/enacted/en/print.html

    Written and edited by Deirdre Kelly and Aisling Dolan. Narrated by Aisling Dolan. Produced by Deirdre Kelly, Aisling Dolan, Emma Callaghan, Tara Lonij, Davy Quinlivan


    Logo: designed by Fintan Wall,  featuring Maser's Repeal heart  

    Support the Show.

    25 min
  • Episode 2: Vote No

    On the second episode of How The Yes Was Won, we spoke with the activists and organisers who mobilised as part of the Anti-Amendment Campaign. This campaign fought to try to prevent the introduction of the 8th Amendment. Their bravery and perseverance is astounding. Additional research notes can be found below if you'd like to do some further reading.


    We spoke with Mary Gordon, Mary Ryder, Dr Ursula Barry, Eddie Conlon and Sean O’Brien for this episode.

    If you would like to help increase access to abortion in Ireland and elsewhere, please consider donating to the Abortion Support Network.

    Donate to Abortion Support Network


    Story of the 8th - Interviews with Goretti Horgan and Mary Diskin

    1982 Leaflet from The Anti Amendment Campaign - Irish Election Literature

    How The Yes Was Won written and edited by Deirdre Kelly and Aisling Dolan. Narrated by Aisling Dolan. Produced by Deirdre Kelly, Aisling Dolan, Emma Callaghan, Tara Lonij, Davy Quinlivan


    Logo: designed by Fintan Wall,  featuring Maser's Repeal heart

    Support the Show.

    27 min
  • Episode 1: Right to Choose

    In our first episode of How The Yes Was Won, we give context to the introduction of the 8th Amendment by delving in to what was happening in Irish Feminism in the late 70s and early 80s, and the backlash from it. There are links to some additional resources you may be interested in just below.


     We spoke with Anne Connolly, Mary Gordon, Dr Ursula Barry, with additional research assistance from Mary McAuliffe.

    If you would like to help increase access to abortion in Ireland and elsewhere, please consider donating to the Abortion Support Network.

    Donate to Abortion Support Network

    Frank Crummy speaking at Dublin Castle on the day of the Referendum count

    Dublin Well Woman Centre picket (1978) - Come Here To Me

    1983 Eighth Amendment referendum and the Workers Party [wig snatch pic at 4:22]

    Mairtin Mac Cormaic: My interview with Fine Gaeler may have sparked original amendment, 5/05/2013

    Gene Kerrigan, The Moral Civil War, 31/081983

    Linda Connolly - From Revolution to Devolution: A Social Movements Analysis of the Contemporary Womens Movement in Ireland (pdf) (1997)

    Written and edited by Deirdre Kelly and Aisling Dolan. Narrated by Aisling Dolan. Produced by Deirdre Kelly, Aisling Dolan, Emma Callaghan, Tara Lonij, Davy Quinlivan


    Logo: designed by Fintan Wall,  featuring Maser's Repeal heart 




    Support the Show.

    26 min

About How The Yes Was Won

From the publisher's feed

A podcast about the 8th Amendment. A 10-part podcast series about the history of reproductive rights in Ireland with interviews with those who fought for them, from the 1970s to the present day. …