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Women in History It's important to note that below I have given merely a snippet of each of these amazing women's lives. You can learn more from any internet search or from our podcast 'This is Familiar' which you can find on Spotify and ITunes. Marie Louise O’Morphi 1736-1815 Royal Mistress ​ Discovered in 1751 by Casanova, and later lover to his friend the artist Francois Boucher who painted her obsessively. At age 17 she met King Louis XV of France who was instantly captivated by her. She became his mistress and over the coming years........... ​ Kit Cavanagh 1677-1739 ​ Soldier ​ When Kit’s Husband, Richard Walsh, disappeared in 1692 without warning or explanation, Kit was then pregnant with their 3rd child and distraught. She searched for a year and then received a letter from Richard explaining he had been in Holland! He had gotten blind drunk the night of this disappearance, woken in Holland, and was forcibly conscripted to fight for King William III against the French! Kit put her children in her mothers care, cut off her hair, dressed as a man and enlisted....... Dr. Kathleen Lynn 1874-1955 ​ One of the first female doctors in Ireland In 1909 she became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Kathleen was also a suffragist, a labour rights activist and a nationalist. She tended hunger striking suffragists in 1912 in their fight for the vote. She joined the ICA in 1913 and by 1916 she was made captain and Chief Medical Officer, she even collected and transported weapons in her car! During the 1916 Easter Rising, Kathleen set up a casualty station in City Hall. After the officer in charge of City Hall was killed, Kathleen and his fiancé defended the location through the night under heavy fire...... ​ Grace O’Malley ~ Granuaile c.1530-1603 Pirate ​ In 1584 her lands were confiscated and her oldest son was murdered and she and her remaining family became destitute. Grace was forced to write to Queen Elizabeth asking for what she was entitled to under Brehon Law from both her husband’s estates. Granuaile later sailed a ship to England, up the river Thames and demanded and audience with the Queen which was granted. In the meeting both women spoke in Latin, as Grace didn’t speak English and Elizabeth didn’t speak Irish. Grace was given back her property and her son was released....... ​ Margaret Leeson (Peg Plunkett) 1727-1797 ​ Courtesan ​ At age 57 Peg set up her own brothel in Pitt Street and employed only the best women to serve her high class clientele, including the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Her ‘house of ill repute’ became notorious throughout Ireland and enjoyed huge success. Her girls dressed in sophisticated fashions and were able to hold their own in political conversations. Business boomed with Pegs clients including some of Ireland’s most prolific men of the day. Her wealth and notoriety soared for the next few years......... ​ Dr. Emily Winifred Dickinson 1866-1944 ​ First woman Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (FRCSI) ​ Emily Winifred Dickinson came up against gender discrimination countless times in an effort to simply to the job she loved. In 1887 she applied and was accepted to the Royal College of Surgeons, where she was the only woman student. After obtaining her certificate in 1891, she trained in midwifery in the Rotunda. In 1893 she graduated and was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (FRCSI).Over the years, Emily lectured and published papers on gynaecology, and organised a committee to help women students in Dublin with accommodation. She completed two post graduate degrees in medicine and obstetrics...... ​ Anna Haslam 1829-1922 ​ Pioneering feminist ​ In 1876 Anna and her husband founded the Dublin Women’s Suffrage Association (DWSA). Anna held meetings to raise awareness and wrote to those in power including MPs. In the 1890s Anna campaigned for the right for women to be elected ‘Poor Law Guardians’, a local Government job. Her victory led to women being voted onto local councils. However, women could still not vote for national Government....... Anna voted for the first time in a national election aged 90 in 1918 having spent more than fifty years fighting for women’s rights. ​ Queen Maeve (Maebh) of Connaught c. 50BC-50AD ​ Queen/Celtic Goddess ​ Maeve's most told story is that of the cattle raid of Cooley. While arguing with her husband about who had the most wealth, it turned out he out did her by just a white bull. In order to be on equal terms, Maeve raised an army and rampaged across the country to take the magnificent brown bull in Ulster by force. Her armies took on Cuchulainn in the fight. Some say she lived to be 120. She is buried upright on top of Knocknarea facing her enemies in Ulster....... ​ ​ ​ ​

Through learning we grow. ​ I wanted to have a section on the website where we can learn about ourselves, the products and some amazing women from history. ​ Below you will find a video of FAQs if you prefer to watch rather than read the questions. ​ If you have any interesting information I should consider adding to the website please submit it to me via email.

VAGINA DIALOGUES Your vulva is not your vagina The vagina is a 3- to 6-inch-long muscular canal that runs from the cervix , the lower part of the uterus , to the outside of the body. The vulva is all the outer stuff — including the labia, urethra, clitoris, and vaginal opening. You should know the difference because it’s empowering to understand your body’s anatomy and because it might be helpful or even necessary to distinguish between the two. ​ Vaginas do tear during childbirth, but this is normal Upwards of 79% of vaginal deliveries include tearing or require an incision. These “injuries” can be minor tears or a longer cut (called an episiotomy ) made intentionally by a healthcare provider when, for example, the baby is positioned feet-first or the delivery needs to happen faster. However, your vagina is resilient and, due to ample blood supply, actually heals quicker than other parts of the body. ​ Hymens are not necessarily an indicator of virginity. Most people with vaginas are born with a hymen, a thin piece of skin that stretches across part of the vaginal opening. Despite what you may have heard, at no point in your life will this piece of skin ‘pop.’ Hymens often tear before a person ever has penetrative sex, during some unsexy activity like riding a bike or putting in a tampon. But it’s also common for the hymen to tear during sex, in which case a bit of blood is to be expected. ​ Vaginas are supposed to have a smell This should be common knowledge by now but it’s not. The vagina contains a highly specialized army of bacteria that work to keep your vaginal pH healthy and balanced. And like other bacteria, these do have a smell. This is totally normal and nothing that needs to be covered up by scented body washes or perfumes. Of course, if you’re noticing a new scent that’s odd or pungent, see a doctor. ​ The vagina is self-cleaning. Specialized bacteria exist for the sole purpose of keeping your vaginal pH at an optimal level to ward off other hostile bacteria. It’s totally normally to see discharge — which may be thin or thick, clear or whiteish — in your undies at the end of the day. This is the result of your vagina’s cleaning efforts. Cleaning techniques like douching are a bad idea because they can throw off this natural balance, leading to problems like bacterial vaginosis, thrush and infection. ​ Childbirth doesn’t permanently stretch out the vagina In the days directly after giving birth vaginally, your vagina and vulva will likely feel bruised and swollen. It’s also common for your vagina to feel more open than normal on account of the human that recently passed through. But don’t worry, the swollenness and openness subsides within a few days. Although your vagina will likely remain a little wider than it was pre-birth, you can keep your vaginal muscles toned and healthy by practicing regular pelvic floor exercises. ​ You can still get pregnant if you’re on your period Many people assume that you cannot get pregnant if you have sex while on your period. However, this is not true. Although it’s more unlikely that you will become pregnant while you are menstruating, it is not impossible at all. This is because sperm can survive in the body for up to five or six days — so if you have a relatively short cycle, have sex towards the end of your period, and ovulate just after your period finishes, you could potentially fall pregnant. Another fun related fact: back in the middle ages, people used to think that redheads were babies who were conceived while their mother was on her period. ​ The average starting age for periods has changed over the years Back in the 1800s, girls wouldn’t get their periods until they were well into their teens — the average age was around 17. Nowadays, the average age to start menstruating is 12. Scientists think there are a few key reasons for this: namely, improved nutrition. We’re eating better — and more — than our ancestors did a few hundred years ago, and fat cells make estrogen. The more fat cells you have, the more estrogen you have in your body, which can trigger the start of your menstrual cycle as a girl. Increased stress levels are also a factor as high-stress levels can actually trigger the beginning of your period. ​ You’re born with all your eggs You acquire all the eggs you’ll ever need during your time in the womb – even before you’re born! In fact, you’ll start life with more than a couple of million eggs. As you reach puberty and the menstrual cycle kick-starts, one of these eggs matures each month and is released. All of the extra eggs gradually die off as your biological clock ticks and so this is why you can’t have any more babies once you reach the menopause. ​ ​ Pads FAQ Do they smell? No. The fabric is breathable which allows moisture to evaporate. Less moisture means fewer bacteria to produce smells. As long as you change often enough, this should not be an issue. However bear in mind every woman also has her own natural scent which may be more noticeable to you at certain times of the month. ​ Are they bulkier? This depends on the pad. Our normal pads are no bulkier or thicker than a disposable pad, and are no more noticeable when you wear them. How many will I need? This depends on your own flow and cycle. In general its recommended between 6 to 12 day pads and 3 – 6 night pads if required. ​ Will they leak? Like disposable pads you will need to change your pad before it gets saturated. After a couple of cycles of using them you will become used to how often you need to change your own pad. However if you need a recommendation for normal flow you should look at changing every 3 to 4 hours. ​ Are they comfy? Yes! They are soft and breathable, they don’t contain any heat/moisture trapping plastics and no nasty chemicals or bleaches to leave you feeling irritated. ​ Which way do I wear them? Soft side up, printed side down! ​ How to change my pad when I am away from home? They can be folded over and snapped closed. You can then either pop them in a bag or we also supply PUL fold-over pouches which you can keep them in until you get home. ​ Can I wear them swimming? Unfortunately, no, they are too absorbent! ​ Should I wash them before first use? Yes. Wash once to help with absorbency. ​ How do I wash them? Wash at maximum 40 degrees. we recommend washing out with cold water before machine washing to minimise the chance of staining. Do not bleach. Do not use fabric softener as it can affect absorbency. Do not wash on a hot cycle as this can will set stains. May be tumble dried. ​ Can I use menstrual pads for incontinence? No, I recommend using our mild incontinence pads for cases where you leak when sneezing, coughing or jumping etc. as these contain an extra waterproof layer to help hold in fluid. Not recommended however for heavy incontinence. ​ Are reusable pads better for the environment? Single use pads can contribute to 150kg of landfill waste per person in their lifetime. Disposable tampons, pads and applicators are also polluting waterways and harming marine wildlife, according to Nick Mallos, director of the Trash Free Seas program at Ocean Conservancy. Mallos said the non-profit collected 27,938 used tampons and applicators on beaches around the world in a single day in 2015. ​ ​

What customers have to say... Read below to see what customers have said about products and purchases Just want to say thanks a million for my face mask, it arrived this morning and its perfect! My breast pads are beautiful! I cant wait for the leaky boobs so I can use them!! Love the patterns and overall feel of them! I love my 3 pairs of breast pads! They are so comfy, easy to wear, don't bunch or move in my bra, they are good for the environment and they can be washed in the washing machine and they come out perfect every time and as good as new. Worth every penny! Highly recommend Rosies Eco Store. I love the face scrubbies, they are so soft and Rosie is very quick and efficient! Gave a pack to a friend at the weekend and her two girls love them, she said they never washed their face as much! Recieved my face masks yesterday, they are beautiful and really comfortable thank you! My breast pads are so comfy and wash so well in the machine! I thought I would have to hand wash them thankfully not! So much more gentle on the skin and better for the environment! Got a set of period pads and they are pretty, comfy and a great size/fit! Would recommend Just want to say thanks a million for my face mask, it arrived this morning and its perfect! I have been using reusable pads for about 2 years and your ones are the nicest I have gotten, I will be ordering some more later today, thank you again! My breast pads are a great size, really absorbent and comfortable! Still use my breast pads having bought a pack 7 months ago! Love them!! Very happy with my purchase, super comfortable and easily cleaned! Always have supplies. Love using the scrubbies they are great. My face feels so much cleaner and no spots! So happy I bought them! love them.

Wells for Zoe The inability of women and girls to access sanitary products has led to an increase in infection, disease, and a lack of education among women in developing countries. I have worked with the charity Wells for Zoe to help combat this. Pads Project At Wells for Zoe there had been a reusable sanitary pad project for some time, however Eilis contacted me a few months ago having purchased some of my pads and asked was there any tips I could give to help the girls improve their methods in making their own. I was so delighted to help. For young women in Malawi, their first period means scavenging for some spare cloth, clean paper or anything to create something that resembles a sanitary pad. Girls are forced to miss many days of school when they have their period – or even drop out of school altogether – due to embarrassment and lack of any sanitary products. This denies girls their right to an education, and often shapes the rest of their future. ​ I made a full length video, explaining how to make a pattern, how to cut out pad parts and how to assemble and finish their own pads. While my contribution was absolutely tiny, it has helped these girls and young women gain independence and taught them skills that can be passed on for a long time. The girls use four old refurbished Singer Sewing machines, foot operated. Last month Eilis contacted me about one of the first major gifts of pads where 428 reusable sanitary pads were gifted to 107 girls who received 2 sets each. Wow, such Luxury! Read the article here How can you help? You can donate here Here at Wells for Zoë, we have set up a reusable sanitary pads project, where girls, who don’t do well academically have embraced this wonderful and much needed necessity. We have four old refurbished Singer Sewing machines, foot operated. At our tailoring school, affectionately known as “Maisie’s Makes”, we have 3 amazing girls, who teach the new girls tailoring skills they can take back to their villages. These reusable sanitary pads are given to the girls we support in schools, who cannot afford such a luxury through our WfZ Girl Child Students project. Also, where we have opened new Health Clinics in the more remote areas, when ladies attend, they are gifted 2 reusable pads. On a recent visit to our Health Clinic in Kadikechi, where 88 women attended, these reusable sanitary pads were greeted with incredible joy.

Welcome to Rosie's Eco Store Ireland Every woman has her story At Rosie's Eco Store Ireland, I strongly believe every woman should have access to information about her body and what she does with it. Also I want to inspire todays' women by taking inspiration from those who have paved the way for us in the past. I am a strong advocate for the environment, which is why making the change to reusable is so important to me, and just one of the things we can all do to improve the world around us. Single use plastic is just one problem, but it's a problem we can all easily make better if we just make some small changes. My belief is I can help support those changes with my selection of reusable menstrual pads, incontinence pads, panty liners, breast pads and face pads. All products are hand made and designed by me, Rose, in Kildare from my small business at home. And I enjoy every minute. Home: Welcome SHOP NOW Quick View Panty Liner with wings Price €7.50 Quick View 3 pack Pads & pouch - medium/normal flow Price €45.00 Quick View Floral Moon - medium flow pad Price €15.00 Quick View Moon & Stars overnight/heavy flow pad Price €16.80 NEW 2022 Quick View Dove shape cotton tree decoration Regular Price €5.00 Sale Price €4.50 Quick View 3 pack Sanitary Pads - 2 medium/normal flow & 1 heavy Price €40.00 The female body is a wonder Did you know your vagina is internal and the external is the vulva? Did you know that discharge is perfectly normal and actually kind of amazing as the vagina cleans itself? Did you know women suffer from incontinence more due to the shortened length of their urethra? And did you know as women we are still embarrassed to talk about periods, discharge, vaginas and even to be seen going to the bathroom to change a pad? Periods are normal, vaginas are amazing and we need to start being proud of them and how strong we are as women, and also giving them the best care. Disposable products are 90% plastic, the are also bleached and trap moisture and bacteria leading to smells and irritation. Reusable products are softer, more breathable and better for your wallet and the environment. Women of Ireland have started making the change already, make sure to join them! If you have any questions please just ask in the chat and I will get back to you asap. REVIEW A PRODUCT Customer Feeback We love hearing your feedback as it means we can continuously improve our service and our products. Please submit your review below and thank you for your time! Would you recommend us to your friends? Yes No Submit Thanks for submitting! GET IN TOUCH Submit Thanks for submitting!