Original version

BBC World Service Online

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History: Women invade Dublin's male-only swimming spot

Documentaries

Women invade Dublin's male-only swimming spot

25/08/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, Women invade Dublin's male-only swimming spot

In 1974, women campaigned to swim at the Forty Foot in Dublin, Ireland

Women fought for their right to Dublin's male-only swimming spot, the Forty Foot, in 1974. For years, male swimmers had told women they couldn't swim off the Irish beach.

The Forty Foot is a famous sea swimming spot in Ireland’s capital city of Dublin. For hundreds of years, only men had the privilege of bathing in its deep, icy waters – naked if they chose. 

That was until one day in the summer of 1974, when a group of women decided to plot an invasion. 

At a time when Irish women couldn’t even access contraception, why did this group of hardy feminists decide to fight this particular battle for equality? 

Rosie Blunt speaks to poet, writer, women’s rights activist, and swimmer Mary Dorcey.

(Photo: Woman diving at the Forty Foot in 2019. Credit: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

Women invade Dublin's male-only swimming spot

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service