O’Brien received the award for her inspiring fight for justice
Natasha O’Brien, the inspiring Limerick activist, was recently named Woman of the Year at the 2024 Goss.ie Awards, recognising her ongoing fight for women’s safety and justice.
O’Brien’s fight for change began after she was attacked in 2022 by former soldier Cathal Crotty, who was given a suspended sentence, leading to public outrage and widespread debate.
She bravely transformed her experience into a platform for advocacy. Since then her social media platforms have grown a large following, where people continue to follow her ongoing fight in campaigning for a better Irish justice system and tackling the issue of violence against women.
“It was so weird to hear, my brain still can’t really process it,” she said, after winning the award. “I’ll accept the award on all of our behalves.
“Brave is a word I heard a lot. I don’t feel like I’ve had to be brave, because I’ve had so many people supporting me.”
As she continues to speak out against the ongoing issue of violence against women, Natasha’s platform has served as a space of encouragement for many, and she hopes it will continue. “I hope that this title, this Woman of the Year title, is an encouragement for women, for men, who are afraid to stand up for themselves,” she said. “This is good recognition of doing the right thing, even if it’s the hard thing.”
Natasha O’Brien’s journey from victim to advocate has been a testament to her resilience and dedication to the cause.
Through her courage and willingness to speak out, she has inspired many more to demand a safer and more just society. As she continues to use her platform to amplify the voices of women, O’Brien remains focused on ensuring that no woman feels alone in her fight for justice.