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Divorce Action Group (Irish: Grúpa Gníomhaíochta Colscartha) was an Irish organisation campaigning for the legalisation of divorce in Ireland. The group was one of the main advocators for divorce in the 1986 and 1995 divorce referendums.

History

The organisation was established by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties among others to represent and support those whose marriages have broken down with the goal of bringing divorce to Ireland. South African politician Kader Asmal, a member of ICCL, held the first public meeting for DAG at Liberty Hall on 23 January 1980. Irish singer Sinead O'Connor's father John, a structural engineer and barrister, was the secretary at the group's inception and later became the public relations officer and chairman of the organisation.

In later years, branches were set up in various parts of Ireland such as Mullingar, Tullamore, Waterford, Thurles, Galway and Cork to extend the reach of the cause across the country.

The group was campaigning for the 1986 divorce referendum which ultimately resulted in a No vote. The organisation was registered as a company on 20 December 1993 and later dissolved on 11 June 1999 following the legalisation of divorce in 1995.

References

1. ^ "Action centre plan by divorce group". Irish Press. 16 April 1980. p. 3. Retrieved 8 Oct 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
2. "Divorce Action Group Defeat". RTÉ Archives. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
3. "Group will press for divorce". Evening Press. 4 April 1980. p. 3. Retrieved 8 Oct 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
4. "Divorce Action Group -"Vote Yes to Divorce" 1986 Referendum". Irish Election Literature. 2009-09-18. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
5. "Aftermath of bitter culture wars has left us with a legacy of compassion". Independent.ie. 2016-05-22. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
6. ICCL (2021-12-17). "Celebrating 45 years of change". Irish Council for Civil Liberties. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
7. Collins, Liam (26 March 1980). "A plague on our house or a cure we must have?". Evening Herald. p. 6. Retrieved 8 Oct 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
8. Dunne, Jacqui (13 April 1980). "Group seek divorce laws". Sunday Independent. p. 1 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
9. Crowe, Máire (24 January 1980). "Meeting calls for campaign to allow divorce". Irish Press. p. 7. Retrieved 8 Oct 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
10. "Divorce Action Group (Galway) formed". Connacht Tribune. 19 November 1982. p. 3. Retrieved 8 Oct 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
11. "Divorce Action Group Campaign Launch". Westmeath Examiner. 14 June 1986. p. 7. Retrieved 8 Oct 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
12. "Tullamore Divorce Action Group formed". Offaly Independent. 24 May 1985. p. 4. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
13. Timmins, Eamon (1 July 1996). "Call on groups to divulge finances". Irish Examiner. p. 7. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
14. "Three to one against divorce". Tipperary Star. 5 July 1986. p. 3. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
15. "Divorce Action Group: Say YES to Divorce". Sunday Independent. 4 May 1986. p. 23. Retrieved 8 Oct 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
16. Clines, Francis X.; Times, Special To the New York (1986-06-28). "THE IRISH UPHOLD BAN ON DIVORCE BY 3-TO-2 MARGIN". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
17. Archives, L. A. Times (1986-06-27). "Ireland Votes to Retain Ban on Divorces : Wide Margin of Victory Confirms Loyalty to Catholicism". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
18. O'Leary, Cornelius (1987-04-01). "The Irish referendum on divorce (1986)". Electoral Studies. 6 (1): 69–74. doi:10.1016/0261-3794(87)90054-0. ISSN 0261-3794.
19. "Divorce Action Group Ltd - Irish Company Info - SoloCheck". www.solocheck.ie. Retrieved 8 Oct 2023.
20. "Ten year wait is finally over for those who campaigned for divorce". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.

• Divorce
• Organisations based in the Republic of Ireland