Cork Views: What I've learned volunteering for Mná Feasa 

Mná Feasa - the Irish for ‘Wise Women’ - is the name of a centre that supports women in Cork affected by domestic abuse.

When I started studying Law in UCC, I began learning more about the protections against domestic violence in Irish legislation, and was involved in organising UCC Law Society’s ‘Women in Law Forum’ last year, which is how I first came across Mná Feasa.

All money raised at the event was donated to the organisation and Barbara O’Driscoll, Team Leader, spoke about their work.

Then, last summer, I started volunteering with Mná Feasa part-time on a weekly basis.

Through that experience, I have learned that there is something special about women supporting women.

I feel a hugely heavy weight on my chest when I hear about the devastating acts of abuse these women suffer. However, it’s lifted by the sheer kindness, inspiration, and motivation of the women around me there.

I could feel overwhelming sadness in response, but instead, I feel empowered by the resilience and strength of all the brave women who come through the doors of Mná Feasa.

In college, I have learned so much about the legal protections surrounding domestic violence and the issues with these procedures. However, I have learned the most about the realities of domestic violence from the staff, volunteers and women at Mná Feasa.

The level of trauma, pain and mixed emotions these women carry is heartbreaking. Most days that I pick up the phone, women describe complex stories of manipulation, gaslighting, persistent threats, and heartache. Hearing these real life stories first hand has given me an invaluable understanding of why organisations like Mná Feasa are so important, and why the legal system needs to support women and victim-survivors better.

Founded in 1991, Mná Feasa provides a helpline, one-to-one counselling, support groups and court accompaniment to the women it supports. A phrase they consistently repeat in the organisation is, ‘You don’t need a Bruise to be Abused’. They want to emphasise that physical abuse is not the only form of abuse, and that financial, emotional, psychological and sexual abuse are just as impactful.

According to the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, 2022-2026, domestic violence includes all acts of physical, sexual, psychological and economic violence that occur within the family or domestic unit or between former or current spouses or partners, whether or not the perpetrator shares or has shared the same residence with the victim. The exertion of coercive control is a key component in this process.

Mná Feasa tries to spell out the misconception that women only deserve support if the abuse is ‘bad enough’ or looks a certain way. All women deserve to be heard, listened to, and informed of their options.

A 1995 study by Women’s Aid estimated that 1 in 5 women in Ireland who have been in a relationship have been abused by a former or current partner, and in 2024, there were 46,765 disclosures of domestic abuse against women and children in Ireland, though there are likely many cases that went unrecorded.

Under the Domestic Violence Act 2018, victims of domestic abuse can apply for short term remedies, such as a Protection Order, Interim Barring Order or a Barring Order. Each order grants various levels of protection from the abuser. A longer term option involves applying for a Safety Order or Barring Order which can have the power to remove the perpetrator from the home. Breaching an order is a criminal offence and the gardaí can arrest without warrant. Although these are strong legal mechanisms available for victims of domestic violence, there are still significant barriers to these women accessing justice.

Firstly, the cost of legal proceedings is very high and makes the justice system incredibly inaccessible. More legal aid is needed to combat this fundamental issue.

The physical set-up of the court rooms is also a problem as victims are in the same room as their perpetrators, putting them in a potentially vulnerable and upsetting situation.

Sometimes, victims sit through this scenario only to have to come back another day for their case to actually be heard because of the backlog of cases in Irish courts.

It also seems inconceivable that because domestic abuse cases are separate from guardianship, custody and access cases, a history of violence by an adult may not be known by the judge when granting the perpetrator access to a child.

Likewise, without a Domestic Violence Register, there is no way for members of the public to check if a person has had an order against them in the past. The government have recognised the need for such a register and given the go-ahead for the drafting of legislation.

Although Mná Feasa provides support, it also distributes basic legal information to help women know their rights, and organises periodical sessions with solicitors who answer questions pro bono - they help women fill out legal forms and documents needed to instigate their case and provide court accompaniment.

Despite the systemic changes required to support victims of domestic violence, Mná Feasa is an organisation that is blazing a trail and doing its best to support these women with the resources it has. It is an incredible organisation to be a part of and I would encourage anyone to get involved.

As an initial volunteer, the training I received was really helpful in navigating how to support these women best. I have also found the staff are very mindful of checking in with volunteers to ensure the work isn’t too heavy and to make space for us to offload and chat about a difficult phone call or upsetting interaction.

Whether you are reading this and think you might need support, or would like to start volunteering with them, there is a wealth of information on their website - www.mnafeasa.com.

I am in awe of Mná Feasa and proud to be even a small part of their fantastic team!