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Women on Walls

You cannot be what you cannot see

“The contribution of women in society is too often invisible. Who we see on the walls, tells us about what we as a society value, about who is welcome, about who fits in. We set out on the journey of Women on Walls with the ambition of making women leaders visible to inspire future generations.”

— Dr Michelle Cullen, Managing Director and Head of Inclusion & Diversity, Accenture in Ireland

About the Campaign

Women on Walls is a campaign that seeks to make women leaders visible through a series of commissioned portraits that will create a lasting cultural legacy for Ireland. In July 2024, University College Cork joined the campaign. Accenture’s Women on Walls at UCC is the fourth chapter of this journey.

Our subjects

Brigid Carmody

Coordinator of Cork Traveller Women's Network, a grass-roots community organisation that works for Traveller rights, leadership, culture and heritage.

Mary Crilly

Feminist activist and founding member and CEO of the Sexual Violence Centre Cork.

Dr. Myra Cullinane

Medical doctor, barrister and Senior Dublin District coroner who held the Stardust inquests.

Dr. Evelyn Grant

Musician, broadcaster, educator, arts advocate, social entrepreneur and co-founder of the Cork Pops Orchestra.

Dr. Naomi Masheti

Psychologist, three-time UCC graduate and Programme Director of the Cork Migrant Centre.

Honora ‘Nano’ Nagle (1718-1784)

Pioneering educator, defender of the poor and founder of the Presentation Sisters religious order.

Edna O’Brien (1930-2024)

Novelist, memoirist, playwright, poet and short-story writer.

Joanne O’Riordan

Sports journalist, disability activist, motivational speaker and student of law.

Dr. Patricia Sheahan

Consultant palliative care physician and head of palliative care at University Hospital Kerry.

Caitríona Twomey

Volunteer co-ordinator of Cork Penny Dinners, a charity that offers food and support to anyone in need.

Dola Twomey

Therapist/activist at the Sexual Violence Centre Cork.

Open call for Artists

Business to Arts in partnership with Accenture’s Women on Walls at University College Cork announces an Open Call to Artists for a series of important portrait commissions of trailblazing women to be completed in 2025. Accenture’s Women on Walls at UCC is a campaign that seeks to make women leaders visible through a series of commissioned portraits that will create a lasting cultural legacy for Ireland and the next generations. The open call for artists is open from now until January 16, 2025.

Accenture’s Women on Walls will commission up to four artists to create three individual portraits and one group portrait of trailblazing women connected to the Munster region as selected in conjunction with the public via an Open Call for Subject Nominations ran by UCC earlier this year. The artworks will become part of the important Art Collection held by UCC and will be hung in the Aula Maxima, located in the historical Main Quadrangle, the heart of UCC.

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The Journey So Far

Women on Walls began in 2016 with the RIA. Five portraits of leading female academics were commissioned–the first in their 230-year history. In 2019, Women on Walls at RCSI celebrated the pioneering achievements of eight women leaders in healthcare. In 2021, DCU unveiled the third chapter of artwork for Women on Walls commemorating five women pioneers in science.

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