
Show Notes
A backlash and a breakthrough: behind the scenes in Belfast with Nora Calder.
Show notes (AI generated) In this episode of Peaked, Róisín Michaux speaks with Nora Calder, one of the women involved in running the Women's Rights Network Northern Ireland, about the extraordinary events surrounding the cancellation of the organisation's planned panel at Féile an Phobail in Belfast. The conversation traces the story from the original application for a panel on women's rights, sex-based rights, single-sex spaces and women's sport, through the panel's acceptance, the subsequent social-media controversy, the cancellation by Féile, and the legal and political fallout that followed. Nora explains what happened behind the scenes as the Women's Rights Network sought to have the event reinstated, including the organisation's attempts to engage with Féile, the legal process, the support that came from women around the world, and the decision ultimately to organise an alternative event. The discussion then moves beyond Féile to the wider political situation in Northern Ireland, including the Equality Commission's judicial review, the UK Supreme Court's ruling in For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers, Sarah Morrison's case, BBC coverage of the controversy, engagement with Justice Minister Naomi Long, and the forthcoming Northern Ireland election.
Featured Topics Women's Rights Network Northern Ireland
Féile an Phobail
The cancelled "Respect, Rights & Reality" panel
The original Féile application
Sex-based rights
Single-sex spaces
Women's sport
The UK Supreme Court's For Women Scotland ruling
The online campaign surrounding the Féile panel
The cancellation of the event
J.K. Rowling's offer of legal support
The legal challenge against Féile
The alternative event in Belfast
Sex Matters
Fiona McAnena
Athena Forum
Gaels for Fair Play
Women's rights activism in Northern Ireland
The political divisions of Northern Ireland
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
Article 2 of the Windsor Framework
Sarah Morrison
BBC Spotlight
Nolan Investigates
Stonewall
Naomi Long
The Alliance Party
Northern Ireland's prisons and women's services
The March 2027 Northern Ireland election
The 2025 Féile event was titled "Whose Victory Is It Anyway? Why the UK Supreme Court Ruling Is Not a Victory for the Feminist Movement" and was organised by Féile's Debates and Discussions Committee. The event argued that the Supreme Court ruling was regressive for feminism. (Féile an Phobail) Féile 2025: Whose Victory Is It Anyway?
The Women's Rights Network Northern Ireland The Women's Rights Network is a UK-wide organisation campaigning around the rights and interests of women and girls. Nora discusses the work of the Northern Ireland branch, including political engagement, campaigning, Freedom of Information requests, judicial reviews and public events. She explains that the Northern Ireland branch works both independently and with the wider WRN network, sharing information and research between regional groups. Women's Rights Network Women's Rights Network on YouTube Women's Rights Network YouTube channel
The Planned Panel The planned event was titled: Respect, Rights & Reality: Women's Voices from Ireland and Europe The panel was intended to bring together women from Northern Ireland, Ireland and Europe to discuss sex-based rights and the legal and political questions surrounding them. Among the organisations and speakers discussed were: Women's Rights Network
Athena Forum
Gaels for Fair Play
Sex Matters
Fiona McAnena from Sex Matters subsequently agreed to participate. Nora describes the excitement among the organisers after the event was accepted and speakers began agreeing to take part. Sex Matters
The Cancellation On 21 July 2026, Féile an Phobail cancelled the WRN Northern Ireland event. Féile said it had been unaware from the initial submission that the event would "promot
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