HOUSEWIFE OF THE YEAR tells the story of Ireland’s treatment of women through the prism of a unique, surreal, live televised competition, that has to be seen to be believed, where a generation of Irish women competed in front of a live audience for the title of ‘Housewife of the Year’. The former contestants share their direct experiences of marriage bars, lack of contraception, magdalene laundries, financial vulnerability, boredom and shame and of course, of being contestants in the competition. It is a poignant, often hilarious, uplifting story of a resilient generation of women and how they changed a country.

There will be a Q&A with former contestants Ellen Gowan and Ena Howell. This will be hosted by Dr. Paul D’Alton, Associate Professor of Psychology, University College Dublin (UCD). Many of you will know his voice from over the years on RTE' Radio One's Drivetime programme and his work with the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI). Paul completed his clinical psychology training at Trinity College, Dublin and works as a clinical psychologist, educator, activist and researcher.