“Donegal Women want to be active and connected to their local communities”
In December 2024, Women’s Collective Ireland-Donegal (WCI-Donegal) carried out a women’s needs assessment, providing an opportunity for women living in Donegal to express their community needs and share life experiences.
572 women aged 18 and above took part in the assessment which was carried out through an online survey. The findings from this survey now provides us with important insight into the lives of women living in Donegal and highlights the diverse needs of women in rural Ireland.
Women living across the county took the time to share with WCI-Donegal their experiences with mental health, access to local support services, their views on what’s missing for women in the county and their experiences of gender inequality. They spoke openly about mental health, pressure at home and work, lack of affordable childcare, and gaps in community opportunities for women in the county. More than half (52%) said they experience anxiety. Many also reported loneliness, low mood and feeling overwhelmed, especially those in their 30s and 40s, many of whom are juggling work and caring responsibilities.
A common theme among the respondents was the need for a welcoming, women-only space in their community where they could drop in for a chat, a class or a cuppa, somewhere safe, informal and friendly to connect, learn or simply take a break. Others expressed a need for better access to local workshops, creative programmes, and everyday practical support.
While most respondents didn’t know of a Women’s Group in their area, nearly three-quarters said they’d like to join one. Many women also said that gender inequality continues to impact their lives, from taking on more caring responsibilities at home while also working, to facing discrimination at work and feeling unsafe in public spaces.
Women’s responses also suggest that there are gaps in current community engagement and highlight there is a need to utilise and better connect women to the opportunities that already exist in the community.
The survey findings will help shape WCI-Donegal’s work, ensuring that our work is grounded in the lived realities of women in Donegal. While the experiences and information shared by women in the survey provides local community organisations and decision-making bodies valuable insight and data to help inform their work allowing us all to better support women to engage and participate in the community, support their wellbeing and empowerment.
Women’s Collective Ireland-Donegal would like to thank and acknowledge all the women who took the time to complete our women’s needs assessment. Their time and insightful input are very much appreciated.
You can read a full copy of the needs assessment report by downloading it here.
Women's Collective Donegal 