The Irish Women's Temperance Union was an Irish non-sectarian and non-political organization,[1] founded in Belfast in May 1894, for the purpose of promoting temperance among the women of Ireland.[2] It was created to draw together the efforts of individual societies that already existed but had no umbrella organisation.[3] Margaret Byers served as its first president.[4] By 1899 the Union had seventy component societies.[1] The Union conducted temperance work in schools and at local fairs by means of temperance cafes and tea tents, and it held mothers' meetings. It conducted a Home for Girls, which cared for 1,000 girls (as of 1926), and a Home for Inebriate Women, which admitted more than 250 patients (as of 1926). It supported temperance missionaries for work among women.[1]
Notable people involved with the Union included Sarah R. Barcroft, president of Newry; and Mary Fleetwood Berry, president of Galway.[2] Mrs Beale and Mrs J.H. Thompson represented Cork, Emily Foot and Charlotte Edmundson represented Dublin, Isabella Tod was for Belfast, and Mrs Richardson for Bessbrook.[3]
A petition in favour of the Early Saturday and Sunday Closing Bill was signed, and a representative of the Union spent some time in London endeavouring to gain support among Members of Parliament, however, the Bill could not be introduced.[1]
The official organ of the Union, Echoes of Erin, was issued in January, April, and September of each year.[1]
The Union's papers are held at The National Archives, and span the period 1899 to circa 1927.[5]
