Daylight Savings are debated every year - but new arguments say that darker evenings are dangerous for women.
An appearance by Saoirse Ronan on The Graham Norton Show has sparked a debate about women’s safety after dark.
Ronan silenced jokes made by the three other male guests – including Paul Mescal – about using a phone as a tool for self-defence.
“That’s what girls have to think about all the time,” she said. “Am I right ladies?”
A clip of Saoirse Ronan on the Graham Norton Show with Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal & Eddie Redmayne is going viral. pic.twitter.com/3AGzCLDn88
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Her comments received a round of applause on the programme, and have led to further conversations about other threats towards women’s safety that can go unnoticed.
On Lunchtime Live today, Newstalk tech correspondent Jess Kelly said the darker evenings make many women feel less safe outside.
"I’ve felt more uneasy when I'm out running in the evenings,” she said.
“To the point where last week I joined a gym, because I didn't really feel super safe running around at night.
“Just with the way the winter comes in, the rest of the evenings are darker by the time I get home, get ready, go for a run.”
'Constantly on edge'
Jess said that cases like the murder of primary school teacher Ashling Murphy have ‘really hammered home’ the danger of these situations.
“You're constantly on edge,” she said.
“It's not always the most severe instances that you'd read about, or you'd hear about.
“It can be things like – if I run by the shop that's close to my house, and there's a group of 10 lads hanging around outside, and they're shouting stuff at you – that's intimidating.”
Unseen by men
Freelance journalist and stylist Laura Mullett agreed with Jess, saying that these issues also often go unseen by men.
“I think us educating ourselves and being careful, you know, it's smart and it makes so much sense, but it is sad,” she said.
“A lot of my male friends would be a little bit surprised – but you do have to be vigilant because you don't want to be that one per-cent.”
Laura said that while safety should always come first, it is still disappointing that women should have to dedicate so much of their headspace towards protecting themselves.
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