Two Irish women flew to Britain this morning to secure an abortion, sharing the experience through live updates on Twitter.
The women, who left Ireland this morning en route to a Manchester clinic, set up the Twitter account @twowomentravel in an effort to show Taoiseach Enda Kenny what the long journey looks like for at least 14 women who are forced to leave Ireland every day for an abortion.
The first leg of the journey began this morning at 5am.
#twowomentravel boarding, it's chilly. @EndaKennyTD pic.twitter.com/mffXYkpI71
— Two Women Travel (@TwoWomenTravel) August 20, 2016
They’ve made it clear that their intention is to stand in solidarity with the other women forced abroad.
We stand in solidarity with all women exiled by @EndaKennyTD, his predecessors, his apologists. #twowomentravel pic.twitter.com/lipWBwdViA
— Two Women Travel (@TwoWomenTravel) August 20, 2016
According to their latest update, they have now arrived in the UK.
Now a waiting room,weighted by bated breaths.@EndaKennyTD we could be home by noon in another world. #twowomentravel pic.twitter.com/1Sqytx6pgM
— Two Women Travel (@TwoWomenTravel) August 20, 2016
After an unexpected change in venue, which forced the women to take a taxi to another area, they reached the clinic.
. @EndaKennyTD waiting room no. 2. Feel might collapse from exhaustion.No sleep. Friend calm.Brave. #twowomentravel pic.twitter.com/OqWSOdYCtt
— Two Women Travel (@TwoWomenTravel) August 20, 2016
According to figures by Belfast-based journalism project Detail Data, and the Department of Health in the UK, 25,000 abortions have been performed on Irish women in England and Wales in the last five years alone.
In the years between 2010 and 2014, 19,947 girls and women from the Republic of Ireland and 4,652 from Northern Ireland made the journey across the Irish Sea to have an abortion.
The figures also include the number of girls under the age of 16 who traveled for abortions, revealing that 152 young girls from the Republic and 69 under-16s from the north of Ireland found themselves on a boat or airplane to the UK for a termination in the last five years.
There has been an outpouring of support for the women, one of whom will provide the Twitter updates while the other undergoes the procedure.
You can follow the updates throughout the day @twowomentravel.
Today, @TwoWomenTravel but you're not on your own in this. So many people are with you. X
— James Corden (@JKCorden) August 20, 2016
All I can think about today is brave @TwoWomenTravel, the others making that journey and those in crisis unable to travel #repealthe8th
— Tara Flynn (@TaraFlynn) August 20, 2016
How heartbreaking and brave of #twowomentravel. Is Irish Gov paying attention? #repealthe8th
— Fiona Duignan (@FionaD71) August 20, 2016
So many women – women that you know personally, not just as statistics – will be able to relate to every second of this. #TwoWomenTravel
— Elaine (@IgoeByToyota) August 20, 2016
