“We need, as a society, to atone for how women were treated in this country for a long, long time.”
Cillian Murphy and Blindboy Boatclub from the Rubberbandits sat down recently and discussed why both would be voting Yes when it comes to repealing the 8th Amendment of the Constitution on Friday 25 May.
In this excerpt, the star of Peaky Blinders explains to Blindboy why, after moving home to Ireland with his young family four years ago, he’s determined to be part of a society that values women and their autonomy over their bodies.
Speaking about the positivity that surrounded the Marriage Equality vote of 2015, Murphy said he felt very proud of his and his wife’s decision to raise their children in Ireland.
“This decision we’re about to face is the next step, really, for our society,” Murphy said, “and I feel also as a man we need as a society to atone for how women were treated in this country for a long, long time.
“They were ashamed and we put their safety at risk and I think we need to address that, to be brave and stand up.
“I want my children, my two boys, to be cognisant of that and to grow up in a society that recognises that.”
Blindboy agreed, stating, “If the Eighth isn’t repealed it’s going to be very difficult to speak about equal rights for women. How do we have that conversation if the elephant in the room isn’t put down?”
“If women don’t have the right to determine decisions about their own body, then they can’t have equal rights. It’s as simple as that,” concluded Murphy.
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