This International Womens’ Day, we reached out to women we admire and invited them to share some words of wisdom…
EASKEY BRITTON PhD, Blue Health Scientist, Surfer & Author
Name a woman you admire/inspires you and why?
Irish artist Pauline Bewick has had the greatest influence on me since I first went to her art class aged 10. She embodied the wild feminine, encouraged me to nurture my creative power and to boldly express myself.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received from another woman?
“Our strength is in being soft, like water.” – freediver and founder of I Am Water, Hanli Prinsloo.
What advice would you offer another woman in your field/industry?
Our bodies are over 60% saltwater. And every second breath we take comes from the ocean. Breathe deep, you breathe the ocean inside. And remember, we are ocean.
Easkey’s new book ‘Ebb and Flow’: Connect with the Patterns and Power of Water’ will be released on April 11th, and is available for pre-order now via this link.
SIOBHÁN MCSWEENEY, Actor & Presenter
Name a woman you admire/inspires you and why?
I have to say my female friends. I have the most remarkable group of gals in my friendship circle. A veritable coven of wise, supportive, funny and inspiring women. Women who raise children and continue to maintain their own identity despite a system that demands that motherhood is subjugation and subsuming. These women are extraordinary role models both for me and the children they are rearing.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received from another woman?
From my own brilliant mother; Try and live by yourself for some time if you can. If you can’t live by yourself, how can you expect anyone to live with you (fully aware this is quite the privilege in this economic climate). I think at heart this is a version of Ru Paul’s – “If you don’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love someone else?”
What advice would you offer another woman in your field/industry?
Remember as an actor the best tool you have is yourself. Don’t try and become a tabula rasa and erase everything that makes you unique. But keep working on yourself to become the most interesting, creative, professional and mischievous version of yourself. Thats what our industry needs; interesting and interested imps.
This summer, Siobhán will be starring in Landmark Production’s ‘Happy Days’, written by Samuel Beckett and directed by Caitríona McLaughlin, more information here.
AMBER BARRETT, Irish International Footballer
Name a woman you admire/inspires you and why?
A woman that I have always admired is Serena Williams. She continually pushes barriers and boundaries for her sport and succeeding under constant criticism. Dominating her sport, the way she did for such a long time, is such an unbelievable accomplishment.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received from another woman?
The best advice I received from a woman was listening to Jo Malone on the High-Performance podcast, and she said, “never make a life changing decision on a bad day” and it’s something that really stuck with me. Important to always be in a clear mind for these types of moments.
What advice would you offer another woman in your field/industry?
The best advice I would give would be to keep doing what they say you can’t do or what you aren’t able to. Push your own boundaries and do more. And the rest follows suit.
Amber and the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team will compete in this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
NIKKI BRADLEY, Adaptive Adventurer & Motivational Speaker
Name a woman you admire/inspires you and why?
Aimee Connolly, founder of Sculpted by Aimee. I have met many incredible women over the years but this year I sat down with Aimee to film some content and I was blown away by her ambition/ dedication and lack of ego. She has achieved so much in business and is only getting started!
What advice would you offer another women in your field/industry?
Don’t let nerves stop you from taking that first step into your speaking career. Public speaking is terrifying at first and it can be enough to put you off. However, if you persevere it could change your life!
Find out more about Nikki at TheMotivationFactory.ie
NIAMH O’MALLEY, Artist
Name a woman you admire/inspires you and why?
To name one is to omit many – so truthfully, it’s all of my female colleagues who maintain amazing, ambitious and ever-surprising practices despite the financial and practical difficulties of longevity in this industry.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received from another woman?
Rather than trying to make the ‘best’ work – just make the ‘next’ work – nothing can ever contain everything – and if it did that would be the end.
What advice would you offer another woman in your field/industry?
Surround yourself with supportive people who value you as well as your work – and – it’s your life not a race.
Niamh O’Malley’s critically acclaimed exhibition that represented Ireland at the 2022 Venice Biannale Gather – is on display at The Model, Sligo until April 8th, 2023.
CHARLOTTE TEMPLE, Design Director & 5th Generation Family Member – Magee 1866
Name a woman you admire/inspires you and why?
Amelia Earhart, the pilot. I love adventure and hugely admire a variety of early female adventurers and explorers who were groundbreaking in their particular fields in a time when women didn’t have the freedom, we experience today in the western world to travel and explore. They were incredibly resilient, brave and determined. Qualities that I feel are so important today, in any field – business to adventure.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received from another woman?
I used to be a real worrier and spend hours at night awake thinking and worrying about things I couldn’t control. As someone once told me in no uncertain terms – this is wasted energy and emotion and leaves you feeling exhausted!
The best advice I have been given is stop worrying about things that are completely out of your control, worrying about them will change nothing – it just stresses you out. Manage what you can control and generally things fall into place. We are all human and I do sometimes wake at night with something on my mind, I now listen to a sleep story or some music which is a good distraction.
What advice would you offer another woman in your field/industry?
We spend our life trying to find a balance, (or certainly I do!) and often get it very wrong, especially as a woman – it can be very hard to keep everyone happy – family, children, husband or partner, teams at work and yourself. When everything gets too much, try, hard as it might be to take a step back, breathe and reassess what is most important to you right now and prioritise – a day at a time. Give yourself some time, if you can find some space for you – some sport, a quiet moment with a book, a spa treatment – it often helps to put other areas of our busy lives into perspective & create a better balance – family, work and day to day life.
Thanks to everyone for taking part.
Cover image thanks to Easkey Britton.
