Reflections on "A Woman’s Culm, Keeping the Home Fires Burning" Gender and Rurality in the Commemoration of Ireland’s Struggle for Independence

This chapter reflects on A Woman’s Culm, a commissioned art film that aligns with Ireland’s Decade of Centenaries Programme (2012–2023). The film explores the often overlooked and underacknowledged roles women played in Ireland’s fight for independence. Specifically, it highlights the struggles of rural women, whose contributions were rendered invisible due to their domestic nature during this period of national upheaval. By foregrounding the female voice and employing experience-oriented storytelling, the film challenges traditional power dynamics inherent in institutional archival practices and the production of historical knowledge (Stone-Mediatore). This approach not only revises male-dominated narratives; it also introduces new perspectives that underscore the significance of recontextualizing historical narratives to include diverse and multifaceted experiences.