Recovering the Voices of Irish Women in Early Modern History: The Voices Project led by Prof Jane Ohlmeyer

History has long been dominated by the stories of men, their achievements, and their failures. Women, who often had little autonomy or power compared to men in the past, have been largely overlooked in historical narratives. However, a groundbreaking project led by Prof Jane Ohlmeyer at Trinity College Dublin is seeking to change that.

The Voices: Life and Death, War and Peace, c1550-c1700 project is using artificial intelligence to recover the voices of Irish women who lived in the 16th and 17th centuries. These women witnessed significant events such as the Plantations, the overthrow of the old Gaelic order, the 1641 rebellion, the coming of Cromwell, and the Williamite war. Through wills, court records, surveys, censuses, and other historical documents, the project aims to shed light on the lives of these remarkable women.

One such woman, Eleanol Dardiz, of Jeffrystown, Co Westmeath, fought against her philandering husband in court, seeking the return of her belongings. Another woman, Catherine Strong, made a fortune as Dublin’s town scavenger, a dirty but lucrative job. These stories, along with many others, offer a glimpse into the lives of women who navigated a world where the odds were stacked against them.

Prof Ohlmeyer highlighted the importance of uncovering the voices of women in historical records, noting that women are often better known in death than in life. The project’s use of machine learning and ChatGPT will help extract and amplify the testimonies of these women, who have long been hidden in plain sight.

In a time when women’s legal status was compromised and they were viewed as chattel, these stories of agency and resilience are vital. By uncovering the experiences of Irish women from the past, the Voices project is rewriting history, giving voice to those who were previously silenced. Through their stories, we gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of women’s lives in a tumultuous period of Irish history.

As Prof Ohlmeyer aptly stated, “It is at times of crisis that we see women very clearly.” By bringing these voices to the forefront, we honor the strength and resilience of women who shaped the course of history, despite the obstacles they faced.