At around 5am this morning two women travelled from Ireland to England to secure an abortion.
The anonymous woman and her friend have been live tweeting their journey all day today from a Twitter account entitled @TwoWomenTravel.
We have been following the journey of these two women intently at Her.ie, with the specific purpose of providing a platform for those who are denied basic human rights in this country. According to Twitter, the two women have returned from the clinic and are safe and resting.
Here is an overview of their story, told by the women themselves.
https://twitter.com/TwoWomenTravel/status/766835396202430464
The women boarded their flight at 6am
https://twitter.com/TwoWomenTravel/status/766863954186469376
‘We make this journey in stern solidarity with all our Irish sisters who have gone before us’
https://twitter.com/TwoWomenTravel/status/766890569872334848
By 8.30 am they had arrived in the UK.
https://twitter.com/TwoWomenTravel/status/766898723217694720
https://twitter.com/TwoWomenTravel/status/766929518690983936
https://twitter.com/TwoWomenTravel/status/766934406250520576
https://twitter.com/TwoWomenTravel/status/766961443594010624
https://twitter.com/TwoWomenTravel/status/766962176854753280
https://twitter.com/TwoWomenTravel/status/766962924447469568
https://twitter.com/TwoWomenTravel/status/766964619307016192
https://twitter.com/TwoWomenTravel/status/767013312060162052
https://twitter.com/TwoWomenTravel/status/767020530708996102
https://twitter.com/TwoWomenTravel/status/767029102054346752
https://twitter.com/TwoWomenTravel/status/767033946760708097
https://twitter.com/TwoWomenTravel/status/767045926947094528
Today, the issue of abortion trended globally, with respected media outlets such as The Guardian, reporting the travels of these two Irish women.
New York Magazine also covered the story, highlighting an issue that has remained hidden for so many years in Irish culture.
The tweets garnered much attention online which were mostly positive. British television personality James Corden tweeted his support.
Today, @TwoWomenTravel but you're not on your own in this. So many people are with you. X
— James Corden (@JKCorden) August 20, 2016
Whilst prominent Irish women openly cried for help from Twitter.
Women and girls in Ireland need access to abortion. Women in Ireland are second class citizens. Please help. #repealthe8th #emergency
— Róisín Jingle 🎄 (@roisiningle) May 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/UnaMullally/status/766969697673809920
https://twitter.com/TaraFlynn/status/766916538024599552
Support for #twowomentravel has been dignified. Meanwhile, the detractors have been vile, immature, hate-filled and often very, very creepy.
— Tom Doorley (@tomdoorley) August 20, 2016
Contraception, divorce, homosexuality. Catholic fundamentalists lost every other battle in their war. Time to #repealthe8th. #twowomentravel
— Donal O’Keeffe (@Donal_OKeeffe) August 20, 2016
I feel compassion for @twowomentravel & respect for their bravery in sharing a an incredibly difficult often trod journey #TwoWomenTravel
— Gráinne Seoige (@grainne_seoige) August 20, 2016
And of course there were the negative comments, that overwhelmingly centred on our Facebook page. To which, our writer wrote a powerful opinion piece, which you can read all about below.
As much as the Irish Government is failing women by forcing them to travel elsewhere for an abortion, please spare a thought for the many many migrant women, who can not leave this country but still need access to safe and legal abortions. Our solidarity is also with them.
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