Two brave Irish women are live-tweeting their journey from Ireland to England to undergo abortions – a journey that hundreds upon hundreds of Irish women and girls are forced to make every year.
The account, Two Women Travel, started yesterday and documents the multiple journeys, stages and efforts that Irish women have to take and make in order to access abortion clinics in the UK.
They are directly tweeting Enda Kenny in each and every tweet throughout this trip.
You hear stories like these often, but actually following this journey firsthand, in real-time makes it startlingly, and shockingly, real.
Their journey began at about 4am this morning and already thousands of people are following the entire thing
Good morning all .Thanks for all of th messages of solidarity and support.Thanks to@EndaKennyTD we’re about to hit the road.#twowomentravel
— Two Women Travel (@TwoWomenTravel) August 20, 2016
It began with a flight
#twowomentravel boarding, it’s chilly. @EndaKennyTD pic.twitter.com/mffXYkpI71
— Two Women Travel (@TwoWomenTravel) August 20, 2016
They penned a note, standing in solidarity with women in similar situations
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
Then, the next stage of the journey
Pretty ordinary sights, in a place away from home. Can’t say it’s comforting, though @EndaKennyTD #twowomentravel pic.twitter.com/3FTxYGAG1y
— Two Women Travel (@TwoWomenTravel) August 20, 2016
Followed by their arrival at the first clinic
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
Before having to move along to another
Unxpectd change of venue.#twowomentravel more thn originally anticipated.Hit us back th taxi fare@EndaKennyTD?Sound pic.twitter.com/LbI76TYBTa
— Two Women Travel (@TwoWomenTravel) August 20, 2016
People have been voicing their support for these women all morning
Today, @TwoWomenTravel but you’re not on your own in this. So many people are with you. X
— James Corden (@JKCorden) August 20, 2016
Hopefully this will kick #endaKenny up the hole to do something #twowomentravel
— Sinead Pidgeon (@pidgewidge28) August 20, 2016
I’ll be thinking of you all day. Very brave, very real #twowomentravel
— Michelle (@bellshell) August 20, 2016
The real-time sacrifice of privacy is a huge thing. I admire these women but wish they didn’t have to do this #twowomentravel #repealthe8th
— sarah griff (@griffski) August 20, 2016
#twowomentravel it shouldn’t have to be like this. the world watches as we export our women in order for them to have choice. #repealthe8th
— ciaran ????️???? (@nerdarama) August 20, 2016
Unfortunately, with anything repeal the 8th-related comes trolls, criticism and hate
But people are fighting their corner and standing up for these two women on Twitter.
I don’t get the people sending #TwoWomenTravel hate this early on a Saturday? Does mass have wifi now or what?
— adam (@RummHammm) August 20, 2016
The people trolling #twowomentravel are doing a great job showing how anti-choicers really feel about women who have abortions.
— Wendy Lyon (@wendylyon) August 20, 2016
But for the most part it is support, admiration and applause that these two courageous women are receiving.
Follow the journey here.