Political herstories
by Diane Urquhart
In a similar vein the election of women to the parliament of Northern Ireland has often been overlooked and marginalised. In the period up to the outbreak of the Second World War only three women were elected as MPs (a total of nine women sat in the Northern Ireland House of Commons during its lifetime from 1921-72), but it is interesting to note that these figures are comparable to the number of women elected to both Westminster and Dail Eireann. Of the first women MPs, Julia McMordie (MP for South Belfast, 1921-25), Margaret Waring (MP for Iveagh in Co. Down, 1929-33) and Dehra Parker (MP for Londonderry, 1921-29 and for South Londonderry, 1933-60), Parker was by far the most outstanding figure. Making her maiden speech in December 1921 on the subject of payment for government ministers, Parker quickly emerged as a capable orator and one of the most stalwart unionists in the house. Furthermore, whilst the majority of McMordie's and Waring's parliamentary contribution focussed on issues and legislation affecting women, Parker's remit stretched beyond this to encompass welfare, constitutional, economic affairs.
Therefore, within the parliament of Northern Ireland, just as in other aspects
of Ulster politics, women had a role to play. Indeed what emerges from a
study of the late 19th to the early 20th century is the overwhelming desire
of many women of different classes, religious denominations and political
beliefs to become actively involved in Ulster politics. |
