Irish heritage and culture, as told by the women of the North West

North-west England has always had a rich and deep connection to Irish heritage, with Manchester, Lancashire - and Liverpool in particular - famed for its historic Irish communities.

Many families settled in the region after mass migration began from the mid-19th century during the Great Famine.

And with the boom of heavy industry - from shipbuilding and canal and road building in Liverpool to the mills of Manchester and Lancashire - by the 20th century, these areas became a heartland of Irish culture, including social clubs, folk music and the influence of the Catholic church.

Still today the link persists, with the region being the most popular choice for Irish university students choosing to study overseas, according to the Department for the Economy.

But while Irish stories are weaved into the tapestry of the North West, some voices are quieter than others - leading two curators to ask: "Who are the women of Ireland in the North?"

"Women don't get the space to have their voices heard," said Rosarie Walsh, a community interest company director, based in Trafford, in Greater Manchester.

Rosarie moved to Manchester 16 years ago to study theatre at university and now runs Emerald LENS - a female-led non-profit organisation dedicated to uncovering and sharing the untold stories of underrepresented communities.

She and Cheshire-based artist Lydia O'Hara have spent the past two years dedicated to uncovering the voices of women across the Irish diaspora.

Now, taking the testimony of dozens of women from the ages of 20 to over 80, Rosarie and Lydia have opened a new exhibition at the University of Liverpool's Victoria Gallery & Museum - shining a spotlight on women of Irish heritage in the north of England.

"Women hold up a lot of the community," Rosarie explained.

"Just like all the men that came over from Ireland who came over to work here to build the roads, women came over for nursing and for all sorts of different reasons.

"But the women don't always get the profile for doing that, for helping to support their families and communities.

"I suppose we're always kind of in one way in the background.

"This project has been a deeply personal and emotional journey.

"Listening to the stories of other Irish women in the north of England has opened my eyes to the richness, resilience and complexity of our shared experience.

"It has reinforced how important it is to create space for these voices to be heard, celebrated and preserved."

The project brought together a range of women from across the region - of all ages and backgrounds - to reflect on their Irish identity, through folklore, art, personal objects and family history.

From first-generation migrants to fifth-generation descendants, the women told their stories and explored their heritage and belonging - asking questions about their mixed-heritage, identity outside of Ireland and the influence of their Irish culture.

Now the creations and oral testimonies brought forward by the project have been shared at an exhibition - the St Brigid's Arms - an interactive walk-through set in a fictional pub, named after the lesser-known female patron saint of Ireland.

The free-to-visit exhibition opened on Saturday at at the University of Liverpool's Victoria Gallery & Museum and continues until 17 April 2027.

Read more stories from Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X.