Influential Woman of the week..

WindSock · 15-11-2007 4:45pm #1

Ok, I'll get the ball rolling...

Today we'll start with our very own Sinead O Connor

She's a bit barmy, I know, But to rip up a picture of the Pope on National TV in the US takes a lot of Nangers, in my opinion. Keeping in mind, this was all just before it was mainstream worldwide news about the child abuse perpetrated by the Clergy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Owa_CFBAWpw

Of course there was serious backlash for this 'blasphemous act'
and Sinead suffered a tirade of abuse from many Americans and Irish. Her career suffered greatly, but this Woman was not afraid to tie herself to the mast and face the storm for her idea of what is right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCk2YQS8vaw

It's for that clip of footage from the Bob Dylan anniversary alone, that makes me believe Sinead O Conner is a national treasure and should be cherished. Screw Bono. Yeah the man has done some great things for charity and is in everyones good books, but I have never watched a performance, or heard a speech by him that has sent a tingle down my spine and made me think 'FCUK YEAH!'
Especially in the face of so many Bob Dylan 'fans' that are booing her for the very reason Bob Dylan became what he is. A person not afraid to speak up for what they think is right. Bloody hypocrites.

She is very controversial, call it attention seeking if you may. The odd time I have cringed to watch her 'Rastafari-ing' about the place, but all of what you may or may not agree with is soon forgotten when she releases her voice to sing. To deny listening to Sinead O Conner and her absolutley hauntingly amazing voice just because you may not agree with her, surely is a sin in itself.

Pighead · 15-11-2007 5:36pm

Influential Women? Hmmm........struggling........can't think........trick question?...........
thread dies.............

Jesus Wept · 15-11-2007 5:45pm

Jebus, Sinead O'Connor?

This is some sort of personal fixation Windpipe Windsock.

Sinead O'Connor is a muppet, yiz can do better than that! C'mon!!!

The Hill Billy · 15-11-2007 5:49pm

What about Oprah?
Constantly struggling with weight problems.
Ar$e looks big in everything.
Loadsa moolah to spend on frocks but nothing ever fits right.
Probably menopausal.

Jules · 15-11-2007 6:02pm

Lads if ye have nothing of value to say about it... ssshhhh!

WindSock · 15-11-2007 6:59pm

The-Rigger wrote: »

Jebus, Sinead O'Connor?

This is some sort of personal fixation Windpipe Windsock.

Sinead O'Connor is a muppet, yiz can do better than that! C'mon!!!

Ok, post up a Woman whom you admire beyond her physical appearance then

WindSock · 15-11-2007 7:02pm

Hill Billy wrote: »

What about Oprah?
Constantly struggling with weight problems.
Ar$e looks big in everything.
Loadsa moolah to spend on frocks but nothing ever fits right.
Probably menopausal.

You're entitled to post up about her if you like, i didnt realise Oprah Winfrey was such an influence on your life, Hilly Billy

Anti · 15-11-2007 7:14pm

WindSock wrote: »

Ok, post up a Woman whom you admire beyond her physical appearance then

Princess Diana. I have a hell of alot of respect for that woman. I dont think i need to tell anyone what she has done for humanity.

Jimoslimos · 15-11-2007 7:23pm

Anti wrote: »

Princess Diana. I have a hell of alot of respect for that woman. I dont think i need to tell anyone what she has done for humanity.

Whats that then, taught us not to try outrun the paparrazzi:eek:

I'll nominate Ellen MacArtur

Anti · 15-11-2007 7:24pm

Dont be so ignorant. How about all the chatries she set up for one.

WindSock · 15-11-2007 7:53pm

Tell us what ye don't like about our Sinead then? Do you dislike her more than Bono? What do you think of her at the Bob dylan thing?
Kris Kristofferson is also fab.

Jesus Wept · 15-11-2007 8:21pm

I don't dislike Bono.

I had to watch that second clip through my hands, she is just cringeworthy.

The only thing she got right is the pope and church are a shower. And she probably
said it for all the wrong reasons anyway. Then she does the whole 'I iz a priest!' thing.

She is a muppet, of the highest order, as are the people bothering to boo her.

'child abuse - yay-ahh. Sub-human bondage'

er.

Yes she has a good voice if she would only STFU and sing.

Tree · 15-11-2007 8:43pm

Mary Harney? crushing the HSE one hospital at a time.

HAPPYGIRL · 15-11-2007 10:28pm

Aung San Suu Kyi now theres an iconic figure!

Will · 16-11-2007 12:36am

Sylvia plath - tragic figure but one hell of a poet. love her stuff. im sure she has influenced more than a few people in her lifetime and still even now.

Peared · 16-11-2007 12:48am

Sinead is a goddess.

Disliked and misunderstood by headline readers of male dominated media and women who enjoy fitting into a stereotype that appeals to men.

She has been proven time and time again to be right and ahead of her time and draw attention to issues that people are uncomfortable with.

She has the most incredible voice and beauty.

I wish people in this country would wake up and realise they are sh*tting on somebody who should be treasured. Especially when we revere some people who imo could do with a good sh*tting on.

I suspect the full value of Sinead will be realised when she dies. Sounds crap but most likely true.

Jules · 16-11-2007 1:36am

Wilburt wrote: »

Sylvia plath - tragic figure but one hell of a poet. love her stuff. im sure she has influenced more than a few people in her lifetime and still even now.

QFT

16-11-2007 2:17am

Anti wrote: »

Dont be so ignorant. How about all the chatries she set up for one.

Spell charities right and I might not think your just another idiot man

Anti · 16-11-2007 10:03am

coolsmileygirl wrote: »

Spell charities right and I might not think your just another idiot man

Like i care what your oppinion of me is !

16-11-2007 10:23am

Jesus!
Now why did that read differently in the mail I just got :rolleyes:

I don't really come across someone who seek's aproval through what I say on here and I don't know why people would still think that.

watna · 16-11-2007 10:25am

I was thinking about this Sinead O'Connor thing when i went home last night and I agree with windsock. She may be a bit odd but it did take a lot of courage to stand up for what she believed in, especially as it caused her so mich trouble. I was just thinking about femaile singers today, they're told what to say by PR people and they can't say any controversial. A few years ago the sugababes were spokespeople for the British lottery. A journalist asked one of them did she play the lottery and she said no, I don't. She then confused and looked at a PR/management person next to her and said to him sorry what am I supposed to say to that? The PR person then said, yes I play the lotto whenever I can, and the sugababe repeated that back to the journalist! It was hilarious!

I mean, you'd never see Sinead doing that! The sugababes (as much as I do like their new song!) are terrible role models if they aren't even allowed an opinion. Who are young girls supposed to look up to?!

Leeby · 16-11-2007 1:44pm

I know she's very opinionated and vocal about issues that concern her, but what has she actually done about the issues that concern her? Besides talking and ripping up pictures I mean?

Peared · 16-11-2007 1:58pm

Contributed about half her income to various charities. At one stage she gave away a whole house. More than most celebs I can think of, and more than you or I, even in relative terms.

So you could say Sinead has done quite a bit.

Leeby · 16-11-2007 2:03pm

Peared wrote: »

Contributed about half her income to various charities. At one stage she gave away a whole house. More than most celebs I can think of, and more than you or I, even in relative terms.

So you could say Sinead has done quite a bit.

Ah right, fair play, didn't know that

WindSock · 16-11-2007 2:06pm

She was the first female priest. I know it was mostly to prove a point, but frankly, it was a point that needed proving, in my opinion.
Also to highlight these things and put her career in jeopardy is quite a feat.
She could have easily just gone out there winning the hearts and minds of people by going to Africa and shaking hands with a few famine/war/landmine victims, but what does that do really but boost her own profile.
I just admire her integrity and courage to go against popular opinion and speak out about things that she believes are wrong. To be able to do that as a Woman, especially in Ireland even just 15 years ago must have been extremely difficult, as she must have found it very hard to get support from the majority of the 'Just keep your head down and serve God, your Husband and Gaybo' types.

Rhiannon14 · 16-11-2007 4:06pm

Anna Politkovskaya has to be one of the bravest women of our lifetime.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Politkovskaya

tallaght01 · 17-11-2007 1:02pm

Benazir Bhutto has balls of steell, I have to say!!

Jules · 18-11-2007 6:36pm

How about our 7th President - Mary Robinson...

I'll know what i think of her and what she did for women of this country, this country in general and also in her role as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

So what do you guys think of her as a woman of influence?

LouOB · 19-11-2007 4:08pm

Totally agree I think Sinead O'Conor is totally underestimated but totally and utterly mis-understood. As she puts alot of people off due to her approach.
If she took a different approach to issues it may be more successful - but big whhhhhhoooooooo for trail blazers. You have to admire anyone who follows through - but didnt think the whole ripping up pope picture was appropriate

Catari Jaguar · 19-11-2007 8:15pm

Anti wrote: »

Dont be so ignorant. How about all the chatries she set up for one.

I could set up a charity in the morning. Course, just like herself, I'll expect other people to pay into it. And it did more to highlight her, make her look good in her divorce proceedings and prevent a backlash of pro-royal family Britons...

She was a media hungry hoe bag.

6th · 19-11-2007 9:00pm

Peared wrote: »

Contributed about half her income to various charities. At one stage she gave away a whole house. More than most celebs I can think of, and more than you or I, even in relative terms.

So you could say Sinead has done quite a bit.

Tax dodge!

Anyway I nominate Kate McCann ... she's been through so much and is so strong!

6th · 19-11-2007 9:00pm

Lil Kitten wrote: »

I could set up a charity in the morning. Course, just like herself, I'll expect other people to pay into it. And it did more to highlight her, make her look good in her divorce proceedings and prevent a backlash of pro-royal family Britons...

She was a media hungry hoe bag.

I'm gonna tell her you said that!

Catari Jaguar · 19-11-2007 11:35pm

Please don't

I iz a scared

WindSock · 23-11-2007 2:18pm

Don't be afraid to write a few paragraphs and post links or whatever to explain why you admire them. I'll post this weeks one up soon, when my feet have warmed up.

panda100 · 23-11-2007 5:18pm

HAPPYGIRL wrote: »

Aung San Suu Kyi now theres an iconic figure!

Second that!
I think Miriam O'Callaghan is also a good inspiration to Irish women on how you can do the family thang and still kick ass in the male dominated world of RTE at the same time.
This month though I think Susie Long is someone who really deseves womens (and mens) admiration alike. She was a rallying voice against the states sick health system and even in the face of death continued to make a stand so that others wouldnt have to go through what she went through.
http://www.tribune.ie/article.tvt?_scope=TribuneFTF&id=102728&SUBCAT=&SUBCATNAME=&DT=09/09/2007%2000

EamonnKeane · 24-11-2007 12:22am

Virginia Woolf, for being great.

johnnyskeleton · 27-11-2007 12:26am

WindSock wrote: »

Tell us what ye don't like about our Sinead then? What do you think of her at the Bob dylan thing?

Sorry if it sounds harsh, but if someone like Bob Dylan or Kris Kristofferson was faced with such a hostile crowd, they would win them over with their passion and the conviction with which they sing. To be honest, Bob Dylan was probably at his very best when faced with an angry audience. When he sang The lonesome death of hattie carrol, the Hurricane and Masters of War it was a big 2 fingers to the establishment, and if it upset people he didn't care. The best performers often get noticed when they are playing in front of a crowd that simply doesn't want to listen. They make 'em listen.

Sinead just seems like a stroppy little girl, her singing is awful and seems more irritated than defiant. There was very little conviction or passion to her voice, and she didn't seem at all like winning the crowd over. If she didn't let the crowd get to her, or sang at them with contempt it would have been much better, but instead she let them get to her. Don't get me wrong, it takes a lot of moxy to sing to such a hostile audience, but it takes something special to come off well, and she didn't.

She seemed to me more like Ian Brown throwing a hissy fit when the power went off on top of the pops (or whatever programme it was), than a person signing about an uncomfortable truth.

And while maybe 15 years ago that song might have been fresh (which I doubt), it is so cliched it does nothing for me.

lucyburn · 27-11-2007 12:34am

Janice Dickenson is brilliant she is a real inspiration to all women.
She's a very successful woman and i think she intimates alot of men (which i think is great)
And she looks fabulous for her age(i know that she's had some surgery but even so she still looks great)

johnnyskeleton · 27-11-2007 12:42am

lucyburn wrote: »

Janice Dickenson is brilliant she is a real inspiration to all women.
She's a very successful woman and i think she intimates alot of men (which i think is great)

So successful and intimidating, that we haven't even heard of her.

EamonnKeane · 27-11-2007 12:55am

By your logic, Stalin was a great man: he was even more successful than Janice Dickenson (who, Wikipedia tells me, is a modelling agent - one step above a madam) and even more intimidating.

lucyburn · 27-11-2007 1:00am

EamonnKeane wrote: »

By your logic, Stalin was a great man: he was even more successful than Janice Dickenson (who, Wikipedia tells me, is a modelling agent - one step above a madam) and even more intimidating.

That's a bit of an over reaction Eamonn, what harm has she done?
She's a strong independent intelligent woman, so what's wrong with that?

Mr.Nice Guy · 27-11-2007 5:50am

Maria Kanellis

Class act.

WindSock · 27-11-2007 8:06pm

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

Maria Kanellis

Class act.

Oh, you seemed have lost your way. Here let me guide you back to where you can post crap like that http://www.boards.ie/

Any of the forums there I'm sure are willing to accomodate your post. JUST NOT THIS ONE!

Enjoy your stay

WindSock · 27-11-2007 9:15pm

My next installment is another home grown lass, Grace O Malley
Aka, the Pirate Queen. Yearrrrrrh.

Hailing from Clew Bay off Co. Mayo, born in 1530 and lived in the time of the Tudors and their efforts to reconquer Ireland.

Henry VIII was clamping down heavily on Irish Chieftans and Anglo Irish Lords, pressuring them to submit to the Crown. The O Malleys and O Flahertys stood strong and refused to submit then denied access to Galway Bay and Poached Merchant Ships all along the coast.
Grace Commandeered her own private army of 200 O Malley Men and an entire fleet of O Flaherty ships. She was a respected leader. She displayed fierce bravery on many occasions and had a very skillful knowledge of the sea. Any invaders deeming themselves lucky to have succesfully manoeverd the harsh Atlantic on the rugged West coast, soon found themselves up against a new challenge.
Grace even went across the water to pay a visit to Queen Elizabeth, in 1593, when both were in the Autumn of their years. Both held a respect for each other and knew well of the difficulties that face powerful Women in a Mans world.

Grace finally died in 1603 at the age of 70 and is said to be buried on Clare Island.
Granuailes relentless fighting to keep the Chieftains of Ireland in power and reject the English rule in an unforgiving time is why she gets my vote. I think her story needs to be told. (and not as a musical

)

tallaght01 · 28-12-2007 11:08am

tallaght01 wrote: »

Benazir Bhutto has balls of steell, I have to say!!

Sadly, some of the more extreme elements in her country just weren't ready for progress.

May she RIP

sweetz · 03-01-2008 12:37pm

sinead o connor is an inspiration,
her integrity comes off as arrogance or petulance as in her response to the booing crowd..she could have tried to charm them or win them over ..but she didnt feel the need..that to me is integrity of the highest degree..a powerful woman..reciting lyrics that were life changing for me..bob marley spoke truth that is still significant today

flyingdagger · 05-01-2008 3:34pm

There are a few that i admire/am intrigued by:
Sojourner Truth-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sojourner_Truth

Grainne Mhaol-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_O%27Malley

Boudica-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boudica

WindSock · 14-11-2008 2:28pm

Thought I'd revive this old chestnut in celebration :pac:

Nevyn · 14-11-2008 2:46pm

Two of mine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Paul

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmeline_Pankhurst

With out these two women and those who supported them women would not be able to vote, one did so in Britain and the other in the USA.

Both were imprisoned for demonstrating, went on hunger strike and were force feed and suffered other humiliations.

They were called iron jawed angels.

http://www.hbo.com/films/ironjawedangels/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StF3_Mj0tBg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO70ZjZ0wrw

brianthebard · 14-11-2008 8:02pm

EamonnKeane wrote: »

By your logic, Stalin was a great man: he was even more successful than Janice Dickenson (who, Wikipedia tells me, is a modelling agent - one step above a madam) and even more intimidating.

Agree completely; why celebrate mediocrity? There are women who have actually contributed something to society, like say Marie Curie, who have changed the way we think about society (Mary Robinson), or on a personal level, changed the way I think (Judith Butler). In that context, who the hell is Janice Dickenson?

Clare Bear · 14-11-2008 9:07pm

brianthebard wrote: »

Agree completely; why celebrate mediocrity? There are women who have actually contributed something to society, like say Marie Curie, who have changed the way we think about society (Mary Robinson), or on a personal level, changed the way I think (Judith Butler). In that context, who the hell is Janice Dickenson?

Wouldn't be Janice Dickenson's biggest fan myself but after reading her book and reading the sh1t she went through as a child I think she's an inspiration because she didn't let it make her a victim, she went on to become a successful model and later own her own business. Not the most likeable of people but I always admire and respect anyone that has been through unimaginable abuse as a child, drug abuse as an adult and came out stronger for it.

Influential Woman of the week..

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