Margaret Ann Bulkley (c. 1789–1865), later known as Dr. James Barry, was an Irish-born woman who disguised herself as a man to study medicine and become a British Army surgeon. Brilliant and determined, she advanced medical reform, championed public health, and achieved a remarkable career despite rigid 19th-century gender restrictions. Her true gender was only revealed to the public and military after her death.
Hidden in Plain Sight
Throughout history, Irish women have quietly pioneered within their fields — innovators, makers, and thinkers who advanced society while remaining largely unacknowledged.
Hidden in Plain Sight brings together a collection of these women from across industrial and creative disciplines. The exhibition revisits the boundaries they challenged, the achievements they realised, and the legacies they left behind. It honours their determination and resilience — quietly, as they themselves so often worked.
The ceramics and tableware within the collection reflect the domestic spaces where many women of their time were expected to remain. These forms represent the norms they resisted and redefined. The partially obscured faces invite us to question recognition — would we know these women if they passed us today? What parts of their stories have been overlooked or forgotten?
Carrickmacross lace, a recurring motif, speaks to the idea of being hidden in plain sight. Traditionally crafted by women in their homes and adorning garments worn by others, the lace symbolises both invisibility and artistry — a delicate tribute to those whose skill and influence shaped Irish cultural identity, yet often went unacknowledged.
Margaret Buckley
Fine Bone China Dinner Plate
Designed in Ireland
Printed and Finished in Stoke On Trent
Diameter cm
Dishwasher safe, recommended- handwash with care.
