Civic reception held for 40th anniversary of Cork Sexual Violence Centre

9th March 2023

Cllr. Colette Finn, deputising for the Lord Mayor of Cork, hosted a civic reception in City Hall on International Women's day, March 8th, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the founding of Cork Sexual Violence Centre.

City Hall was lit up in purple in celebration of both International Women’s Day 2023 and the civic reception, and the invited guests were serenaded by the Garda Choir and High Hopes Choir, and enjoyed a DJ set by Stevie G.

Paying tribute to the invaluable services that the centre has provided throughout the years to survivors of rape and sexual abuse in Cork City and beyond, under the steerage of Chief Executive and recipient of the Freedom of Cork City, Mary Crilly, Cllr. Finn said:

“Mary Crilly and her team in The Sexual Violence Centre Cork made it through every storm and kept going. They have driven societal change in the way that sexual violence is now dealt with in this country. They changed the response to male violence against women over the last four decades.”

She said: “It is safe to say that those of you working in the Sexual Violence Centre are all an inspiration to everyone. You fight the fight and make a difference every day.”

The Centre’s Chief Executive, Mary Crilly, was awarded the Freedom of Cork City last June in recognition of her tireless work in the areas of sexual violence, domestic violence, sex trafficking, female genital mutilation and stalking.