The close of the twentieth century saw the end of an era that ushered in a new social category: Irish women graduates. To maek its passing, and to celebrate the centenary of its own founding. the UCD Women Graduates’ Association decided to assemble in book form a wide variety of female graduate experiences.
Spanning the century, this book is a fascinating bank of stories, from those who have enjoyed its advantages. Here are evocative, amusing and surprising accounts: Kate O’Brien on literary life around 1910’s Earlsfort Terrace, Maeve Binchy on tentative introductions forging lasting friendships in the 1950’s; Rosaleen Linehan on the first awakenings of talent in Dramsoc; Una Claffey on the 1960’s ‘gentle revolution; and Emma Donoghue on the University’s emerging gay culture in the 1980’s.
UCD’s icons and personalities are faithfully and often humorously recalled: the Ladies’ reading room, Theatre L, the bar and the blob; professors-inspirational and otherwise-and Alice, the unforgettable canteen lady.
