Hidden in Plain Sight
Celebrating Seven Unsung Irish Trailblazers
This Autumn, the Hidden in Plain Sight exhibition shined a light on the stories of seven extraordinary Irish women whose achievements have designed and shaped our cultural and society. Through seven striking artworks, the exhibition honours their courage and innovation in fields like politics, medicine, computer programming, botany, design, and the arts. By pushing boundaries, challenging norms, and offering new ways of thinking, doing, and creating, they have shaped the future of design across generations, disciplines, and geographies.
01
Lilian Bland
Lilian Bland (1878–1971)
Irish aviation pioneer and journalist.
Celebrated as one of the first women in the world to design, build, and fly her own airplane.
02
Mabel Cahill
Mabel Cahill (1863–1905)
Irish tennis player
The first foreign woman to win the U.S. National Championships, now the U.S. Open. Victorious in singles and doubles in 1891 and 1892, she became a trailblazer for international women athletes, showcasing Irish sporting talent on the global stage.
03
Carmel Snow
Carmel Snow
magazine editor
Harper’s Bazaar from 1934 to 1958.
Known for her sharp eye for fashion and art, she championed innovative photography and modern design.
04
Margaret Buckley
Margaret Ann Bulkley (c. 1789–1865),
Doctor
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.
05
Agnes Clerke
Agnes Mary Clerke (1842–1907)
Irish astronomer, science writer, and historian of astronomy.
Clerke’s clear, authoritative writing helped popularize astronomy and earned her recognition from the Royal Astronomical Society.
06
Constance Markievicz
Constance Markievicz (1868–1927)
Irish revolutionary, politician, and suffragist.
As Ireland’s first female cabinet minister, she championed workers’ rights, women’s equality, and Irish independence with enduring passion.
07
Teresa Deevy
Teresa Deevy (1894–1963)
Irish playwright
Deaf from age nineteen, she wrote for the Abbey Theatre, creating lyrical, feminist dramas like Katie Roche.
08
Mainie Jellett
Mainie Jellett (1897–1944)
Irish painter and a pioneer of modern art in Ireland.
Her bold use of colour and form challenged traditional tastes, helping shape Ireland’s modernist art movement and inspiring future artists.