The latest episode of ShoutOut, ListenIn! is a powerful tribute to the life and legacy of the late Nell McCafferty, one of Ireland’s most prominent activists and journalists.

The podcast episode features an insightful conversation with LGBTQ+ rights activist, journalist and founding editor of GCN Tonie Walsh, as well as Irish academic, feminist and LGBTQ+ activist Ailbhe Smyth. They delve into McCafferty’s pivotal role in Irish social justice movements, her fearless activism, and their own personal memories with her.

McCafferty was a founding member of the Irish Women’s Liberation Movement and gained prominence as a journalist and author, writing extensively on issues like women’s rights, poverty, and the fight for social justice in Ireland.

Her activism touched many areas, including her famous participation in the 1971 Contraceptive Train protest, a bold challenge to Ireland’s restrictive laws on contraception at the time. Throughout her career, McCafferty also contributed to LGBTQ+ advocacy, writing for publications like Out magazine and GCN .

In the episode, Tonie Walsh reflects on McCafferty’s profound impact on Irish society, stating, “She was quite incredibly well placed to take advantage of the seismic changes that were happening through her lifetime… the evolution of the Northern Ireland civil rights movement, the second wave of feminism, the advance of LGBT advocacy. She was central to some of those dynamics, and if she wasn’t central, she was certainly a witness… and that’s where there’s great value in her writing.”

Walsh goes on to highlight how McCafferty embodied intersectionality, noting that: “She was a great paragon of intersectionality, she was the walking, living embodiment of it.”

Ailbhe Smyth, in her heartfelt remembrance, describes McCafferty as both a feminist and an activist who cared deeply for those who were marginalised: “Nell was a wonderful feminist… she was, in her way, a staunch LGBTQ+ activist… fundamentally Nell was for people who were oppressed, disadvantaged, who were getting a hard knock.”

Smyth’s words echo the deep sense of empathy and justice that McCafferty carried throughout her life, always pushing against the boundaries of oppression.

One of the most poignant moments in the episode comes when Smyth recalls McCafferty’s self-described role as a “disorderly woman,” saying, “I would like to think for my own self and generations of women to come, we won’t be afraid to be disorderly. When the world is disordered… we won’t be afraid to be disorderly.”

This sentiment captures the fearless, unapologetic activism that defined McCafferty’s approach to challenging societal norms, urging future generations to continue fighting for change with the same boldness.

 

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Throughout the episode, Walsh and Smyth offer a moving tribute to McCafferty’s influence on feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, and social justice. They emphasise that McCafferty’s legacy is not just one of remarkable achievements, but of ongoing inspiration for activists today. As Smyth reminds listeners, “I think we have to honour her memory in very practical and political ways, and that we have to remain bold in our activism. No surrender, no paserán.”

The new episode of ShoutOut, ListenIn! serves as both a celebration of Nell McCafferty’s life and a call to action, encouraging listeners to carry forward her legacy of resistance and advocacy. Available now on Spotify and other platforms, this conversation with Tonie Walsh and Ailbhe Smyth is an essential listen for anyone interested in the ongoing fight for equality in Ireland and beyond.