Ken Phelan, 16 Dec
A Clane woman who was voted 'Housewife of the Year' in 1987, has spoken
about her joy in being involved with the competition, and of her part
in the new Little Wings Films documentary, 'Housewife of the Year.'
Billed by the IFI as “a poignant, often hilarious, and uplifting story
of a generation of resilient women and a country in transition”,
'Housewife of the Year' tells the story of the female competitors in
their own words.
Between 1969 and 1995, women all over Ireland competed to win the
'Housewife of the Year', a competition celebrating cookery, nurturing,
and basic household management skills.
Broadcast on RTÉ from 1982, the programmes featured not just the
competition itself but also footage of the contestants at home.
In the film, the women share their experiences of marriage bars, lack
of contraception, Magdalene laundries, financial vulnerability,
boredom, and shame.
As one reviewer penned, it's the story of “a resilient generation of
women and how they changed a country.”
“I was delivering the post in Clane and my daughter entered me for it.
I had to go and meet Gay Byrne a few times, then went on television and
won it, and it was a great time”, says Patricia Connolly, former
postwoman from Clane, and 'Housewife of the Year' winner, 1987.
“It didn't mean a terrible lot back then, it wasn't a very glamorous
job. My husband was sick and I had the five children to look after.
“I was cycling 13 miles every day and I was able to do it back then
because it was 37 years ago.”
The film, directed by Ciarán Cassidy, has already premiered in several
theatres nationwide, to critical acclaim.
The competition finished in 1990, and Patricia heard no more about it
until researchers got in touch about making the film.
She then had to be auditioned, and was one of six women chosen from
1,000 to take part in filming.
“It was a marvellous experience over the last few months going around
to the premieres and that, you know?”, Patricia says.
“They went back over the winners over the years, and went back to '86
when I was in the final, so that's how it happened.”
“The filming was grand, they came up to the house and did all the
filming in the house. They did all the TV work and that in the house
and then they worked on it with all the other women they had on it.
“Then they had the premiere, and then I was on Ireland AM talking about
it last Saturday week. That was a great experience as well,
“The whole thing was a great experience, and lovely photographs and
all.”
And what does Patricia believe makes a good housewife?
“I think of the young women now that have to go out to work, get
children minded, two jobs...we had none of that pressure”, she says.
“The name of it, 'Housewife of the Year', it used to take place from
1979 and Calor Kosangas were the people sponsoring it at that time.
“Since then, what has it meant? I suppose it's been a great joyous
occasion here in the village and that. I got to go a lot of places and
now with this film, it's brilliant altogether, you know?”
'Housewife of the Year' screened as part of the IFI Documentary
Festival, from September 25th – 29th 2024.