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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Etching Irish abortion referendum into history | Etching Irish abortion referendum into history |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| The Republic of Ireland's referendum to liberalise abortion laws in May was one of the most visual campaigns in the country's history. | The Republic of Ireland's referendum to liberalise abortion laws in May was one of the most visual campaigns in the country's history. |
| It was another sign of massive societal change coming just three years after the country's same-sex marriage referendum. | It was another sign of massive societal change coming just three years after the country's same-sex marriage referendum. |
| Now artists, archivists and historians in Ireland have come together to capture the visual history of the pivotal campaign. | Now artists, archivists and historians in Ireland have come together to capture the visual history of the pivotal campaign. |
| And it all began with an enthusiastic professor. | And it all began with an enthusiastic professor. |
| The day after the referendum, art history associate professor, Emily Mark-Fitzgerald, passed time on a bus from Belfast to Dublin by scrolling through Twitter. | The day after the referendum, art history associate professor, Emily Mark-Fitzgerald, passed time on a bus from Belfast to Dublin by scrolling through Twitter. |
| She noticed that artists and historians were chatting about preserving the moment - how could they make sure all the banners and art from both sides were not lost? | She noticed that artists and historians were chatting about preserving the moment - how could they make sure all the banners and art from both sides were not lost? |
| Tapping into the zeitgeist | Tapping into the zeitgeist |
| Dr Mark-Fitzgerald began typing on her laptop and by the time her bus reached Dublin the Archiving the 8th website was live. | Dr Mark-Fitzgerald began typing on her laptop and by the time her bus reached Dublin the Archiving the 8th website was live. |
| "I thought: 'Why don't I set up something really quick to centralise some of the information and to identify who is collecting what?' | "I thought: 'Why don't I set up something really quick to centralise some of the information and to identify who is collecting what?' |
| "It all snowballed from there." | "It all snowballed from there." |
| Individuals and campaign groups started contacting the academic wanting to know to which organisation they could give their material so it could be safeguarded. | Individuals and campaign groups started contacting the academic wanting to know to which organisation they could give their material so it could be safeguarded. |
| "I can't take anything myself personally, but I can put people in touch with the right archive or library," she said. | "I can't take anything myself personally, but I can put people in touch with the right archive or library," she said. |
| Such an instant response is a new way of archiving, championed by the Victoria and Albert (V&A) museum in London which has set up a rapid-response team collecting items reflecting current global and political events. | Such an instant response is a new way of archiving, championed by the Victoria and Albert (V&A) museum in London which has set up a rapid-response team collecting items reflecting current global and political events. |
| In 2017, a pink "pussyhat" that was worn at the Women's March on Washington went on display at the V&A. | In 2017, a pink "pussyhat" that was worn at the Women's March on Washington went on display at the V&A. |
| Other items in the museum's rapid-response collection include a Vote Leave campaign leaflet distributed in the run-up to the UK's EU referendum. | Other items in the museum's rapid-response collection include a Vote Leave campaign leaflet distributed in the run-up to the UK's EU referendum. |
| The incredibly visual nature of the abortion campaign tapped into the zeitgeist and fuelled a national debate according to Dr Mark-Fitzgerald. | The incredibly visual nature of the abortion campaign tapped into the zeitgeist and fuelled a national debate according to Dr Mark-Fitzgerald. |
| The Savita Halappanavar mural on Richmond Street in Dublin, painted by the artist Aches, became a focal point. | The Savita Halappanavar mural on Richmond Street in Dublin, painted by the artist Aches, became a focal point. |
| Ms Halappanavar died in a Galway hospital in October 2012 after she was refused an abortion during a miscarriage. | Ms Halappanavar died in a Galway hospital in October 2012 after she was refused an abortion during a miscarriage. |
| In the immediate aftermath of the referendum result, people left flowers and heartfelt post-it notes at the portrait. | In the immediate aftermath of the referendum result, people left flowers and heartfelt post-it notes at the portrait. |
| The mural has since been removed for preservation and Dublin City Council Library and Archives are digitising the notes. | The mural has since been removed for preservation and Dublin City Council Library and Archives are digitising the notes. |
| Changing digital landscape | Changing digital landscape |
| During the abortion referendum campaign a mural painted by artist Maser on the Protect Arts Centre in Temple Bar was painted over twice. | During the abortion referendum campaign a mural painted by artist Maser on the Protect Arts Centre in Temple Bar was painted over twice. |
| "Certain elements became visually iconic and therefore persuasive pieces of work," Dr Mark-Fitzgerald said. | "Certain elements became visually iconic and therefore persuasive pieces of work," Dr Mark-Fitzgerald said. |
| "People were upset that it was painted over twice, and the paradox is that, once it was covered over you began seeing it on T-shirts, jewellery, stickers, it proliferated further in secondary media." | "People were upset that it was painted over twice, and the paradox is that, once it was covered over you began seeing it on T-shirts, jewellery, stickers, it proliferated further in secondary media." |
| Acknowledging that material reflecting the yes side in the referendum has been a lot more accessible Dr Mark-Fitzgerald said the challenge remains in making sure the no side is also represented. | Acknowledging that material reflecting the yes side in the referendum has been a lot more accessible Dr Mark-Fitzgerald said the challenge remains in making sure the no side is also represented. |
| Two months after that productive bus journey, the conversation is moving offline to the National Library of Ireland (NLI). | Two months after that productive bus journey, the conversation is moving offline to the National Library of Ireland (NLI). |
| Academics, historians and archivists are meeting on Monday to figure out who has what and where. | Academics, historians and archivists are meeting on Monday to figure out who has what and where. |
| Hosting the event, the NLI is aware of its role in preserving a snapshot of a national mood for future historians. | Hosting the event, the NLI is aware of its role in preserving a snapshot of a national mood for future historians. |
| Capturing history | Capturing history |
| The library has always gathered election material - the "ephemeral information - the leaflets people get and then typically throw away. We store it, catalogue it and make it available to the public", explains Katherine McSharry, the NLI's head of outreach. | |
| Since 2011, it has been archiving original digital election material in addition to leaflets and posters. | Since 2011, it has been archiving original digital election material in addition to leaflets and posters. |
| "We don't take a position on the outcome, we capture the record of how people were thinking, writing and talking about something at the moment that it happened," she added. | |
| Archivists at the NLI identified about 100 websites that they believe reflected the discourse on the abortion referendum. | Archivists at the NLI identified about 100 websites that they believe reflected the discourse on the abortion referendum. |
| "Within 12 months, 50% of all websites are either gone or totally changed," said Ms McSharry. | "Within 12 months, 50% of all websites are either gone or totally changed," said Ms McSharry. |
| "That would mean in five years, 10 years or 20 years' time there wouldn't be any record of it at all." | "That would mean in five years, 10 years or 20 years' time there wouldn't be any record of it at all." |
| The websites are archived in a way that allows the researcher to navigate the website exactly as it was on the day after the referendum. | The websites are archived in a way that allows the researcher to navigate the website exactly as it was on the day after the referendum. |
| Social media provided the platform to allow artists and campaigners to begin a conversation with archivists and historians about how the abortion referendum should be preserved. | Social media provided the platform to allow artists and campaigners to begin a conversation with archivists and historians about how the abortion referendum should be preserved. |
| "It was an uplifting and hopeful conversation. It was an opportunity for us to describe the activities that we at the NLI carry out on an ongoing basis," added Ms McSharry. | "It was an uplifting and hopeful conversation. It was an opportunity for us to describe the activities that we at the NLI carry out on an ongoing basis," added Ms McSharry. |
| The cut and thrust of Ireland's 2018 abortion referendum has now been captured in all its forms from paper to video to tweet. | The cut and thrust of Ireland's 2018 abortion referendum has now been captured in all its forms from paper to video to tweet. |
| The digital age has allowed academics and artists to share their snapshot of what was a historic moment in time. | The digital age has allowed academics and artists to share their snapshot of what was a historic moment in time. |