to ask if there's anyone else here who 'travelled' from Ireland?

[Twirlywoowoo]

I know there must be other Irish women on here and I often wonder...I did in 1999, and I've only ever told two people. My best friend (luckily still my closest friend) and my husband. I didn't even tell the guy I was going out with because we split up just before I found out. He wasn't a good guy anyhow. I was 19. But I often think back to that time - it feels like it was a different life. My friend's cousin had had one so she sent on the details and I went on an Aer Lingus flight that I booked on the phone. I hadn't a clue about the internet - I think it was just in its early days. My mam thought I was going down the country for a few days for a course. The whole thing was weird, kind of surreal. I came home and life went back to normal. But I never felt the same again, and I think a lot of that was because I couldn't talk about it. My friend was very kind but she wouldn't have done it herself so we stopped talking about it after a while.
Anyway, just keep thinking about it now it's in the news at home now - I'm not living in Ireland anymore, moved to the UK a few years back. When you talk about the subject here people are shocked it's illegal to travel etc.

Twirly .

I went in 1996. I was referred for in-utero surgery but it was too late so had a late abortion (21 weeks) instead.

I'm surprised at the hospital mentioned above not doing late abortions for foreigners. When I went, the NHS only covered costs if you lived in the catchement area so we had to pay for it. It was about £3000 at the time.

Irish women do pay for it, theymademejoin. Now they can’t even access abortions while paying.

My GM was disowned by her family when pregnant so came and settled in Liverpool and gave birth, over the years she and then my mother had quite a few women come for a visit. Even then the word abortion was never used. Some family (although never actually met until visit) and others friends of family. Another thing that was common with them women was they mainly ended up settling in the Uk, Ireland lost some wonderful people.

Not me but I knew instantly what you meant and have seen more than one friend go through this organisational high hoop that requires lying, secrecy, money, excuses, time off, stress, the unknown.

Respect to all who endured this.

My biggest wish is the 8th is repealed and safe proper legal access to abortion is enshrined in our constitution.

I travelled too and I would support anyone who needs to travel but they shouldn't HAVE to.

SnipSnipMrBurgess I love you name I think the 8th will be repealed, opinion Polls are looking good

This just reads like something out of the history books. I really really hope that they make the right decision on voting day. It really shouldn't be this was in this day and age.

I hope so too.

Leo didnt want bigots using catholicism to justify homophobia. I hope he uses same logic and principle for women

@SoupyNorman - I would wonder what the real reason is then. Cost can't be the reason if women are being charged a substantial amount. It was approximately £3000 in London 22 years ago and has presumably increased since then.

I think pressures on the service are such that they feel they have to prioritise NHS patients in an NHS hospital. Not enough staff available.

& much respect to all you brave women who had to go through this. Let's hope things change in May.

@SoupyNorman - that makes sense, I guess.

Thanks for all of your comments. It is hard for many here in UK to believe I know. But totally normal at home. Hopefully change will come. I still feel like I need to bite my lip when I hear some friends and family talking about it though. Glad to be away at the moment tbh. I'd love to speak my mind but I'm quite a shy person.

And Snipsnip you've a great name. A1 Sharon

I'm English, working in Dublin a few days per week on a project for the past months. As a result I've read newspapers, heard radio chat shows, spoke to a few of my colleagues, spoke to people canvassing on street...and in doing so I learned a lot of things I did not know, and frankly am not sure of some of the "facts" that are regularly used in the debate.

I was not aware that such a huge number of pregnancies in the UK are terminated. The number quoted here in 20%. Seems HUGE to me ... surely there is something wrong with our methods of preventing pregnancy in UK?

I was not aware of the Downes Syndrome testing, and the close to 100% abortion rate as a result of a positive test in Nordic countries. Frankly, I'm not sure what I'd do personally in that case ... I guess my decision would have changed at different times in my life.

Finally, I'm SHOCKED that abortion is not an option in case of rape in Ireland.

OP (and others who traveled) ... are you happy with the decision now?

As context, I was raped by a stranger many years ago. Luckily I did not get pregnant. If I did I am 100% confident I'd have had an abortion ... and never felt regret.

I have "travelled". Other family members have too. And two of my best friends. I know lots of other people that have come to the UK to do this (because we can't at home).
It's an absolute travesty that Irish women do not have full bodily autonomy in 2018.

I don't regret my decision or my journey for an instant. I had just been allocated a college place I'd been working towards for years. I was young, poor and single. I had to borrow to get the money for flights and the healthcare (which was excellent).
I travelled alone. It was scary. I couldn't afford to bring a friend. I didn't tell anyone at all for years. But turn the clock back to when I was in that situation, and I would do it all again.

Let's hope the people of Ireland Repeal the 8th Amendment in May this year.

XmasPost, I'm sorry you had to go through that.

There is quite a good description in a recent Marian Keyes book.

As someone who is British it is very weird reading about it.

The change being sought in Ireland is abortion on demand up to twelve weeks.

That is happening as we speak anyway due to women (illegally) ordering the pills online. But they take them in their bedrooms with no prior counselling or follow up. So most people I think, accept that is happening anyway.

The divisive issues are fatal foetal abnormalities and Downs. The problem is that Downs at the moment cannot be detected prior to twelve weeks, but someone might know more about that. And FFA may mean quite late term abortions. That is anathema for many. A pill is ok, nothing to see here, move on, but late term abortions are just what Pro Life want on their billboards with pics attached.

Bear in mind that although the polls are looking strong for repealing the 8th, the same strength was seen for SSM but the polls came right down just before referendum day.

There are many Pro Life movements in Ireland, many of which are funded by PL groups in fundamental Christian areas of the US. Watch this space. It is quiet now, but the date of the referendum is not known yet but expected to be May 25th.

If anyone wants to get a handle on pro life disdain for women look up Senator Ronan Mullen and Claire Daly (and other clips of the man) on You Tube, you will want to punch the TV (depending on your POV of course!)

I am following it all with great interest, hopeful but not 100% confident that things will go for repeal. But I hope they do. For far too long women's choices were dictated by men. And it is interesting to see how many men are pro life too. Shoo to you I say!

Finally and sorry for going on for so long, I think abortion is a private thing even if it is legal in your country.

I wasn't the one who had the abortion, but I travelled over with friends on two different occasions -- end of the 80s, early 90s. In both cases, I was the only one who knew, and getting the money together and an excuse for going away for a few days was problematic.

No residual trauma for either friend and it was absolutely the right decision in both cases but they and I remain enraged that travelling (and the attendant expense and difficulty) was necessary in order for the moral conservatives to maintain a particular De Valera-esque vision of Ireland. And no, no one should have to sit bleeding on a ferry or in a cheap B and B after an abortion. Or push past a gauntlet of frenzied anti-abortionists waving gory placards.
#repealtheeighth

I think if its up to 12 weeks and medical management then it'll pass. But I cant see surgical elective abortions coming in.

And there is a huge horror for the Downs termination statistics in other countries here, so I can't see that coming in either. We all know someone with a child with DS, so its pretty normalised in Irish society.

I think abortion is a private thing even if it is legal in your country

Why private? It's the ultimate women's issue in terms of legally handing women some control over their bodies, and a crucial public health issue, surely.

I do agree with you that there's no cause for complacency about the referendum. I no longer live in Ireland, but all my family and a lot of friends are there, and I keep my ear to the ground in terms of the media etc. My fingers are crossed, but there's a long way to go. And yes, the 'pro-movement' is extremely well-funded.

I did too 😢

Yes, I did. In 2000 and I was 19. Was in college at the time and knew I couldn't tell my parents. My cousin helped me, it's not something I could talk about to just anyone. I don't think about it anymore and I don't regret it or feel guilt anymore, I did for a while but I just let it go. What's the point in punishing yourself.
There was an Aer Lingus or airport strike the day I was going and RTE were everywhere, was shitting I was going to be caught on tv.