Wexford Women Together ‘Flip-It’ Photo Event Highlights Gender Imbalance in Local Politics

To mark International Women’s Day on March 8th, Wexford Women Together organised a powerful ‘Flip-It’ photo event on March 9th, 2026, in the Wexford County Council chambers. The event saw the gender balance in the chamber completely reversed for one day to draw attention to the under-representation of women in local politics.

Currently, women make up just 26% of Ireland’s councillors, and Wexford County Council has only 8 female members out of 34, which is only 23.5%. Since the council's formation in 1925, only 17 women have ever been elected. The ‘Flip-It’ event, organised with the support of council staff and elected members, aimed to showcase what true gender balance would look like in local government.

Councillor Barbara Anne Murphy, Chairperson of Wexford Women Together, explained that the goal is not to outnumber male colleagues but to achieve gender parity, reflecting the society that elects local representatives. She also highlighted that research shows that female leaders bring vital perspectives, addressing issues such as childcare, community development, and gender-based violence.

This event is part of a wider initiative by Women's Coalition Groups across the country to shine a light on the gender imbalance in politics, particularly in rural areas.