Last week, The Equality Authority of Ireland pursued a case on behalf of the National Women’s Council of Ireland against Portmarnock Golf Club to lift the ban on women becoming members of the club. I know very little about the law but it seemed obvious to me that their attempt would fail.
What I do know is that there are far more ‘Women Only’ groups and associations than ‘Men Only’ groups in this country and I’d imagine that if a man was to apply for membership of one of the member organizations of the National Women’s Council of Ireland, he wouldn’t get very far.
In this news article from Associated Press, Shawn Pogatchnic writes:
In a split 3-2 judgment, Ireland’s top court ruled that Portmarnock Golf Club was not violating Ireland’s Equal Status Act, because that 2000 anti-discrimination law permits exceptions for exclusively male and female clubs.
An executive member of the Women’s Council, Therese Murphy, said lawmakers needed to close the loophole. She said:
golf clubs were venues for power-brokering relationships important to businessmen and women alike. A lot more happens in golf clubs than playing golf. It is about networking
and camaraderie
I searched for ‘Women in Business’ on Google Ireland and there were hundreds of results for Women-Only networks, portals and groups.
The search for ‘Men in Business’ returned exactly … none.
As a woman, I find it extraordinary that some of my lot seem to want the best of both worlds. If a group of men were to set up a ‘Men in Business’ network that excluded women, there would be a similar outcry.
So I say, let the old Pringle jumpers in Portmarnock have their club to themselves. Why would any self-respecting woman want to belong to a club where she knows she’s not wanted anyway?
It’s not as if there’s a shortage of golf clubs in Dublin.
God be with the days when wimmin knew their place … in the kitchen and in the bedroom.
Ah bless ‘em – perhaps the pringle set are still holding tight onto the misconceived idea that GOLF is an accronym for ‘Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden’?? As for Therese’s comment ‘A lot more happens in golf clubs than playing golf’ could she be indeed referring to the 19th hole??