The Leaders Of The Together For Yes Campaign Have Been Named On Time’s ‘Most Influential’ List

Three women who led the Together For Yes campaign during the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment last year have been named on Time magazine’s list of the ‘most influential’ people of 2019.

Grainne Griffin, Ailbhe Smyth and Orla O’Connor were listed in the Icons section of the list, alongside people like Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and Michelle Obama.

Their entry was written by the Oscar-nominated Irish actress Ruth Negga, who paid tribute to the hard work of the campaign.

“Together For Yes put Mná na hEireann front, centre and in control of their own bodies and rights like never before,” she wrote.

It was breathtaking to witness the determination, intelligence, and sheer hard work of its leaders Grainne Griffin, Ailbhe Smyth and Orla O’Connor, who mobilised people of all different backgrounds in the lead-up to the vote. They put experiences of women and the needs of their country first.

“Their incredible tenacity and integrity and courageousness will be an inspiration for generations to come,” she concluded.

Together For Yes was formed out of around 70 civil society groups, including the Abortion Rights Campaign and the National Women’s Council of Ireland, to campaign for a Yes vote in the referendum in May of last year.

In a statement, the campaign said the inclusion of its three co-directors is a “massive international recognition” of what it achieved.

This award is for all the campaigners, women’s groups and organisations throughout Ireland who were part of our movement. Together, we changed Ireland. Our campaign will serve as hope for all those still fighting for their rights – change is possible.

• repeal the 8th
• together for yes