A red shoes campaign is set to get underway in Dublin today to raise awareness about violence against women in Ireland.

The Women's Collective in Tallaght hopes to draw attention to the number of women's lives lost due to gender-based violence.

National Women's Council spokesperson Orla O'Connor has said an art installation will be on display at South Dublin County Council Plaza.

'Epidemic'

It will feature 267 pairs of red shoes, highlighting the number of women who have died violently here since 1996.

“I think it’s really important that the Women’s Collective are doing this,” she said.

“It’s important that we remember the women who have been murdered, and I think every death of every woman is such an enormous tragedy for their families and for their community.”

“It also points to the epidemic that we have of violence against women in Ireland.” 

It follows a Eurobameter survey from earlier this month that showed one fifth of Irish people believe women often exaggerate or lie about rape.

Reports of domestic abuse to Gardaí have also more than tripled in a decade, and between 2021 and 2023, women accounted for 29% of all homicides reported to the State.

Main image: A shadow of a man with a clenched fist as a woman cowers in the corner. 09/03/15. Image: PA Images / Alamy