Cork family carer: ‘I feel more connected to the word exclusion’

Yvonne Brewer Spillane

I am a 51-year-old woman, a mother to two sons, and full-time family carer to my 20-year- old son who has a house-bound, chronic illness known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E).

I am educated to Masters level yet have no income or financial support from this state, though I work 24 hours per day, 365 days per year providing round the clock care and saving this government thousands. According to Family Carers Ireland (2023), there are about 500,000 family carers in Ireland saving the State approximately €20billion.

Being a full-time family carer for the last six years, who is not entitled to Carers Allowance, has taught me so much. 

It has been of course a privilege and very rewarding to care for my son, and like all carers we do this work naturally, instinctively and from a place of love for our loved one.

I’ve been plunged into the world of caring for a vulnerable family member and it has raised so many issues that are hidden or that our government choose to unsee.

I’ve seen first hand how little support family carers are given, how demeaning the application process is for carer support grants or carers’ allowance and how fighting for our loved ones’ rights as well as our own rights becomes a daily occurrence.

For this reason, my wish for International Women’s Day is that our government will be inspired to include family carers more in decision-making and will value our work by providing adequate financial support. Ideally by getting rid of the means tests for Carers’ Allowance, which would ensure every person who ends up as a family carer would be given the right to having support.

As a family carer in this country, I don’t feel the true essence of the word ‘inclusion’. 

In fact, as an Irish woman in Ireland on International Women’s Day 2024, I feel more connected to the term exclusion. Exclusion from financial support, exclusion from rights such as free or affordable health care, exclusion from training or education, exclusion from having a career, exclusion from social activities or holidays as I can’t afford them.

So as a family carer, I’d like to see this government more inspired to respect and value those who devote their lives to looking after family members who in most cases do not have anyone else to care for them. I would like to see this government inspired to implement more policies of inclusion for family carers, the majority of whom are women, rather than just paying lip service to the term.

Annette Quinn, County Archaeologist (Cork County Council).

The word ‘inspire’ to me means to encourage others and instill positivity. The word, to me, means having a sense of belonging and being valued regardless of gender, race, religion, orientation and the like.

I joined Cork County Council in May, 2023, and came from the private sector. I worked as a partner / director in a well-established archaeological consultancy.

A large part of my role involved working on construction sites, a largely male-dominated industry. As a woman in the construction industry one would often feel, for want of a better word, excluded and the need to assert oneself more than usual was almost obligatory. Was this my imagination and was I being paranoid? Maybe it was my role that nobody understood, with Heritage and Archaeology being the ‘bottom of the pile’ and the reason for unnecessary delays and costs on site. That said, I am proud of my 20 years in a very successful business both as a woman and as an archaeologist.

Joining Cork County Council after 20 years was a very big decision and one I didn’t make lightly. So far, my experience, in terms of workplace environment is very positive, and yes, inclusive. Until now, I haven’t really thought about my role as County Archaeologist and being a woman and maybe this is for good reason. I believe I was recruited on merit and experience and not simply to comply with achieving gender balance. I believe I thrive better, feel more empowered in a corporate context where there is a large community of diverse colleagues, learning opportunities, training schemes, progressive workplace policies, and considerable support, and this is very appealing.

It is a very busy role with a high level of responsibility and high pressure but with good reward. The rewards to me are the people I work with (men and women equally), the benefit of a good work life balance, respect and an opportunity to put my experience to good use and to educate others and learn from others. So, to inspire inclusion is to strive to be the person you want to be and be able to bring your whole self to work without question.

Annamarie Fegan, first female Admiral, Royal Cork Yacht Club

I feel we need to be real and embrace who we are as women and believe in what we have to offer. It all begins with ourselves.#

Sian Horn, Founder of The Club women’s network , Elite Pilates and Bebelle.ie.

Inspired inclusion is more than just a buzz word to me. It means creating a safe space where everyone’s voices are not just heard but valued and respected. It is about fostering. We should be fostering diversity, embrace differences, and actively seek to learn and seek different perspectives from all walks of life.

Inspired inclusion is the cornerstone of innovation, driving us to build communities and businesses that reflect the richness of human experience and potential.

Sian is a business mentor and coach helping women to break boundaries and to realise their potential.

Lorraine Draper, Operations Manager and Chair of the Equality, Diversity,

Inclusion & Wellbeing (EDIW)

committee at APC Microbiome Ireland, a world-leading SFI Research Centre.

Inspired inclusion means creating an environment where every member feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and talents to our mission of advancing microbiome research. It involves fostering a culture where diversity is not only embraced but celebrated as a fundamental strength that drives innovation and excellence.

Inspired inclusion means actively seeking out and amplifying voices that are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields, including women, historically unrepresented groups, individuals with disabilities, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. It involves implementing policies and practices that promote equal opportunities for all members, regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status.

At APC Microbiome Ireland, inspired inclusion is not just a checkbox or a compliance requirement - it’s a core value that permeates every aspect of our organisation. It guides our recruitment and retention efforts, our decision-making processes, and our interactions with each other and the broader scientific community. It requires ongoing education, dialogue, and self-reflection to challenge biases and dismantle barriers to inclusion.

Ultimately, inspired inclusion is about creating a community where everyone feels a sense of belonging and can thrive professionally and personally. By fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, we can unlock the full potential of our team and drive groundbreaking discoveries that benefit society as a whole.

UCC Women's Network, Mná@UCC co-chair, Cliodhna O'Callaghan and Emma Connolly

We at Mná@UCC support professional development of all women. In Higher Education setting that includes, academic, professional services and research staff.

Our International Women's Day event on campus (this Friday March 8), in partnership with the Netherlands Embassy in Ireland and the Dutch Irish Business Association, on ‘Why The World Needs More Women In Leadership”.

Speakers' includes a diverse panel of speakers ranging from a Commander of the Naval Service to industry partners and a recent graduate of UCC.

We truly believe we can learn so much from respectfully listening, and including all perspectives on how best to empower female voices.