Rapid Response Collecting and the Irish Abortion Referendum

The last decade in Ireland has seen rapid societal change, including the enshrining of equal marriage and women’s right to bodily autonomy constitution via public referendum. In response, National Museum enacted a programme collecting material culture such significant contemporary events Ireland, which led formal establishment Contemporary Collection. referendum on abolishment 8th Amendment Irish Constitution (Repeal 8th) allow for legal termination pregnancy formed nucleus collection, rationale behind identification representative themes subsequent object choices become template further is now based. This enabled institution its curators work collaboratively with expansion collections fill historic gaps more inclusive Ireland’s varied difficult history.