Rathmullan Woman Stars in Inspiring Housewife of the Year Film: A Journey of Empowerment and Resilience

Rathmullan Woman Shines in Documentary on Irish Women’s History

Margaret Carton from Rathmullan and her daughter Kate are featured in the documentary Housewife of the Year. The film explores the history of Irish women through the lens of the Housewife of the Year contest, which ran from 1968 to 1995.

The contest judged married women based on their cooking skills, housekeeping, and personality. Margaret was nominated by her local Irish Countrywomen’s Association branch in 1986 while living in Donegal. To her surprise, she won the regional contest. However, she was relieved not to win the overall title, as that meant giving cookery demonstrations.

The documentary reveals the struggles faced by women in Ireland during that era, such as the marriage bar and the ban on contraception. Margaret was initially uncertain why she was selected for the film, as she never felt discriminated against as a woman. She has three daughters and is a best-selling author with a diploma in architecture. At 85, she still helps her daughter Libby with bookkeeping at Kinnegar Brewery and is active in the local history society.

Margaret’s initial discomfort with the film stemmed from its focus on her daughter Kate’s life as a single parent and extensive use of archival footage. However, she came to appreciate the film’s message about the differences between past and present. She noted that younger generations often don’t understand the challenges women faced back then.

Margaret highlighted the strong influence of the church on women’s lives. She expressed admiration for the other women featured in the documentary, many of whom overcame difficult beginnings. One poignant story includes Ellen Gowan, sent to a Magdalene Laundry at 16 for taking innocent photos with friends.

Margaret questioned the term “housewife,” suggesting it should be “Bean an Tí,” meaning “woman of the house.” She acknowledged the difficulties of balancing work and family today, noting that her generation had it simpler in some ways. While acknowledging tough times, she believes her generation experienced significant improvements over the years.

Housewife of the Year was released in Irish cinemas on November 22, 2024. The documentary will also be shown at the Foyle Film Festival and several international festivals next month. It was produced by Maria Horgan for Little Wing Films with support from Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and other partners.