Long Walk from the Door

Ireland’s history has long been contested, with the most recent political and civil unrest beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This unique departure from UK history, alongside global influences of feminism and civil rights had a direct influence on the shape and direction of youth work within Northern Ireland, and consequently work with girls and young women. This chapter draws upon historical documents and the reflections of those people most influential to work with girls and young women in Northern Ireland.

Work with girls and young women continues to be contested. The chapter presented here revisits aspects of the history of work with young women published in 2009 (Morgan & McArdle, 2009) with an updated analysis of the most recent youth work context. Having charted the distinctive journey for Northern Ireland, this chapter offers insights into the evolution of contemporary work with girls and young women, across national and international contexts.