Irish Sex Work Research Network (ISWRN)

A book cover, showing the title 'Belfastmen: An Intimate History of Life before Gay Liberation' by Tom Hulme. It is lavender coloured with yellow text, and shows two men sat on a bench, c. 1935.

*drum roll*

Here is the cover for my book, which will be published by @cornellupress.bsky.social on 15 April 2026!

I thought it would be nice to share a bit of info on who these men were and how their lives and interests inspired the design...

📣 Sex Work Studies and History workshop, with an opening talk from NUM CEO, Lynsey Walton!

In-person and online, free to attend, full details below

#RightsNotRescue

Love in the Lav

Wonderful to be at the Dublin launch at another great book on Irish queer history - ‘Love in the Lav; A social biography of same sec desire in Ireland, 1922-1072’ by @aearls.bsky.social #irishhistory #history #irishqueerhistory is such an exciting area for scholars these days … finally! #spéirghorn

Free to everyone to download academic books are a blessing!

Single Mothers in Twentieth-century Ireland and Britain. Interesting looking book launch coming up👇

Oh yes! Caroline West's Wrong Women: Selling Sex in Monto, Dublin's Forgotten Red Light District. And @julialaite.bsky.social The Disappearance of Lydia Harvey: A true story of sex, crime and the meaning of justice. Both very good reads

Likewise we are blocked despite never posting adult content

A very knowledgeable academic account to follow @drcamillewaring.bsky.social if you are interested in non consensual images and wider questions

The Gist: The Abuse Factory X, the child abuse imagery app, revealed our state has no red lines. This is the Gist.

In Dublin, on Fenian Street, there's a factory that makes child sex abuse material.

You can pay it money, as a subscription, and that's one of the services it offers. This doesn't happen by mistake or because you've tricked or hacked the system.

It’s a feature.

www.thegist.ie/the-gist-the...

Critical Analysis of Criminal Law Approaches to Trafficking in Persons: A report of the consultation GAATW sees the phenomenon of human trafficking as intrinsically embedded in the context of migration for the purpose of labour.

Last November we held a consultation with feminist activists, scholars and anti-trafficking experts to ask whether we should be looking to alternatives to the criminal law to achieve justice for victims of trafficking. Here is what we found out: gaatw.org/resources/pu...

The Secret Sex Lives of our Ancestors

UL's Dr Leanne Calvert joins Fin Dwyer on the Irish History Podcast to discuss her research into the secret sex lives of Presbyterians in Ulster in the 18th century, which she has revealed in her book, Pious & Promiscuous: Life, Love & Family in Presbyterian Ulster.

open.spotify.com/episode/6dkU...

Happy New Year 2026 purple and black text with illustrated fireworks

International women's day theme 2025 Strength in Solidarity. Rally - Saturday 7 March 2026.

Happy New Year!
This year our theme for International Women's Day, and our work, is Strength in Solidarity!

It wasn't easy work emotionally either. For many families and friends who lost loved ones in situations relating to the Garda, Vicky was the first person to care about their loss, to ask if they wanted to talk, to take down details of individual deaths. As ever she did this with so much compassion.

This started with Vicky creating and announcing her own database to collate as much of this data as possible

Appreciation today for the late great Dr Vicky Conway who did so much of the groundwork to get this to happen. She is always loved and remembered by the many, many people she helped 💚

MRCI's announcement of Bill Abom's death

Verysad to hear about the loss of Bill Abom. 💔

pictures of Collette, Rita, Emma and Becca alongside logos for Red Umbrella, Trans Pride NI and Chidambaram.

Speaker Line Up! Hear some rallying calls before we set off to Reclaim public space for all accompanied by Chidambaram samba band! Gather in Writers Square from 5pm for speakers at 5:30pm Saturday 29th November 2025. #RTNBelfast #16DaysNI

New #CallforPapers! This issue will aim to highlight cases of intersectional, intermovement alliance and solidarity building between different marginalised and oppressed groups. See call 👉🏼 www.antitraffickingreview.org/index.php/at... Guest editors @drellac.bsky.social & @joelquirk.bsky.social

This year @decrimnow.bsky.social researched the reasons why sex workers in England and Wales are currently entering and remaining in the industry.

Read the full report by here: decrimnow.org.uk/2025/10/30/d...

#16DaysOfActivism #SexWorkIsWork

The Critical Trafficking and Sex Work Studies Research Cluster's infographic for its candlelight vigil for the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. The image features lit candles, a red umbrella (the international symbol for sex workers' rights), and forget-me-nots. The image also has the date and time of the event.

(1/6) Please join the Critical Trafficking and Sex Work Studies Research Cluster (at York University: www.yorku.ca/cfr/traffick...) for a candlelight vigil on December 17, 2025, from 12-12:30 PM EST in recognition of the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.

Letter from President

What a wonderful President we have. #translivesmatter #transrightsarehumanrights

Irish is on a par with British in UK if there is any chance you are eligible.

RSVP for catering purposes. danielle@reclaimtheagenda.org

Placard Making for Reclaim the Night
27 November, 5:30 - 7:30pm PS2, Rosemary Street
Drop into PS2, Rosemary Street, to make a placard for Reclaim the Night, a badge to wear your feminist politics out and about, and have a chat over pizza!
Free, materials provided.
#16DaysNI #16Days

Evaluating Anti-Trafficking Interventions Explore the complexities of trafficking and the importance of effective evaluation in anti-trafficking interventions and measures.

Despite huge sums spent on anti-trafficking, there are staggeringly few evaluations of interventions & growing evidence of harms caused.

This new edited book with @uclpress.bsky.social is our attempt to help change that. 1/

Open access with free digital downloads: uclpress.co.uk/book/evaluat...

Bad Bridgets podcast about crime among Irish women in US inspires film Margot Robbie’s company to make movie based on Northern Ireland academics’ stories of poverty and prison

Fabulous to see Irish historians of 'fallen women' doing so well @badbridgetbook.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

Remembrance & White Poppies The white poppy has been worn in the run-up to Remembrance Day for over ninety years, as a symbol of remembrance and peace.White poppies are worn every year by thousands of people across the UK and be...

Don't forget the White poppy which many prefer as alternative www.ppu.org.uk/remembrance-...

Best wishes to Linda who will be very sadly missed as will SWAI 😢

Daisy Edgar-Jones And Emilia Jones To Star In ‘Bad Bridgets’ From LuckyChap Daisy Edgar Jones and Emilia Jones are set to star in 'Bad Bridgets', from 'Kneecap' director Rich Peppiatt.

Exciting news! Filming will soon start on a Bad Bridgets film, inspired by Elaine Farrell & Leanne McCormick's great book. We're delighted to have both Elaine & Leanne on our USIHS Committee (for many reasons, this is just today's extra one) @badbridgetbook.bsky.social
deadline.com/2025/10/dais...

An Post Irish Book Awards

Wrong Women: Selling Sex in Monto, Dublin's Forgotten Red Light District

ISWRN member Caroline West's wonderful book - Wrong Women - on the history of Monto, Dublin's famous red light district is up for the @hodgesfiggis.bsky.social History Book of the Year in the An Post Irish Book Awards 💚irishbookawards.bsky.social You can vote online www.irishbookawards.ie/vote/

Pious and promiscuous, but was there sex work? Will probably have to buy or find a library to borrow from to find out! Congratulations on your book Dr Leanne Calvert @leannecalvert.bsky.social @unioflimerick.bsky.social