Commemorating Irish Women in Ravensbrück
The Embassy of Ireland in Berlin will mark the 80th anniversary of the Ravensbrück concentration camp’s liberation.
January 15th, 2025In February 2025, the Embassy of Ireland in Berlin will host a series of events to commemorate the Irish women who were among the many prisoners held in Ravensbrück, the largest women's concentration camp in Germany during the Second World War. Over 120,000 women were interned at Ravensbrück, and among them were several Irish women who had been detained due to their active involvement in the anti-fascist resistance. This series of events coincides with the 80th anniversary of the camp’s liberation and serves to honor the stories of courage and survival that often remain overlooked in historical accounts of the war. As part of the Embassy’s 2025 St. Brigid’s Day program, these events aim to reflect on the historical significance of their experiences, offering a moment of remembrance and reflection.
The first of these events, a panel discussion on February 19th at 18:00, will feature a distinguished group of speakers, including Dr. Andrea Genest, Director of the Ravensbrück Memorial Museum, and Irish authors Catherine Fleming and Margo Gorman, who have dedicated significant research to documenting the experiences of those interned at the camp. Both authors have written extensively on the history of the women who survived Ravensbrück, including the Irish prisoners who resisted the Nazi regime. The discussion will be moderated by Kate Katharina Ferguson, and attendees will also be treated to a musical performance by the Berlin-based choir La Voix Mixte, adding an emotional dimension to the evening’s commemoration. The panel will offer deeper insight into the often untold stories of resistance, resilience, and survival, with a particular focus on the role of Irish women in the fight against fascism.
On February 20th, the Embassy will coordinate a guided tour of the Ravensbrück Memorial Museum, offering participants the opportunity to visit the site where so many of these women suffered. Attendees will make their way to Ravensbrück on their own, with a tour of the memorial scheduled to begin at 11:00. The museum provides a powerful and moving tribute to the lives of the women who endured unimaginable hardships, and the guided tour will offer a chance to learn more about the camp’s history, its liberation, and the legacy of those who were imprisoned there. These events, part of the broader St. Brigid’s Day program, offer a profound way to reflect on the impact of WWII on Irish women and their lasting influence on the ongoing fight for justice and human rights.