Witness History
Witness History
Legalising contraception in Ireland
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May 11, 2021
9 minutes
Available for over a year
Contraception wasn't easily accessible in Ireland until 1985. Activists spent years fighting for the right to control their fertility but faced opposition from the Roman Catholic church which traditionally played a central role in Irish society. Paul Moss has been hearing from Betty Purcell who was a teenager when she first started campaigning.
Photo: a woman holding up a condom and some contraceptive pills. Credit: Getty Images.