Uploaded February 2016 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
Yesterday evening we were at Connolly station in Dublin to cover a performance renouncing Ireland's anti abortion laws, this was one of a number that was happening in cities across Ireland to mark St Bridget’s day. “St Bridget is one of four Irish saints who “are recorded as openly and miraculously carrying out abortions”, the feast day was the pre-Christian festival of Imbolg (meaning ‘in the belly’).”
The performance as you’ll see in the video collectively confronts the themes of censorship, self censorship through art, action, performance, conversation and camradery. The location at Connolly is one of the transport hubs through which many of the 12 people who have to leave Ireland every day to access abortion in the UKL and beyond pass.
There was a lot of background noise and interruptions from security guards so below you’’ll find a transcript of what is being said. As the organisers say “Read aloud, the verses publicly present uncensored insights into real experiences. Both rhythm and structure reference the Hail Mary prayer that commemorates the moment in which Mary exercised her agency in consenting to becoming pregnant. These verses highlight the detrimental consequences of denying the agency of others and disregarding our consent, in essence attempting to enforce pregnancy”
Yesterday evening we were at Connolly station in Dublin to cover a performance renouncing Ireland's anti abortion laws, this was one of a number that was happening in cities across Ireland to mark St Bridget’s day. “St Bridget is one of four Irish saints who “are recorded as openly and miraculously carrying out abortions”, the feast day was the pre-Christian festival of Imbolg (meaning ‘in the belly’).”
The performance as you’ll see in the video collectively confronts the themes of censorship, self censorship through art, action, performance, conversation and camradery. The location at Connolly is one of the transport hubs through which many of the 12 people who have to leave Ireland every day to access abortion in the UKL and beyond pass.
There was a lot of background noise and interruptions from security guards so below you’’ll find a transcript of what is being said. As the organisers say “Read aloud, the verses publicly present uncensored insights into real experiences. Both rhythm and structure reference the Hail Mary prayer that commemorates the moment in which Mary exercised her agency in consenting to becoming pregnant. These verses highlight the detrimental consequences of denying the agency of others and disregarding our consent, in essence attempting to enforce pregnancy”
