AMERICAN graduate Maria Oswalt has attracted significant attention due to her stance on abortion, which she reportedly did not disclose before taking over the account.
The 'Ireland' account (@Ireland) is a Twitter account dedicated to people telling their story, with each week employing a new face to look after the account.
This week sees the arrival of Maria Oswalt, a pro-life activist and editor of a pro-life magazine 'Life Matters.'
Oswalt however, simply introduced herself on the account as a graphic designer.
Meet Maria @glitterpudding, a graphic designer from Muscle Shoals Alabama, in Ireland for the first time. Maria will be here for a few months with her Trinity-student boyfriend. She plans to share her first Irish experiences, get to know you better and spark good conversations. pic.twitter.com/arpXIB4xhW
— Ireland / Maria (@ireland) February 5, 2018
As people began to search her name on social media, it became evident the designer was not revealing all.
Hi Maria- welcome! Just had a browse through your other account there. Please confirm you aren’t just here (and curating the Ireland account) to campaign to retain the 8th? If I’m wrong - sincere apologies for asking !
— Andrew Haydu (@HayduAndrew) February 5, 2018
Very recent. pic.twitter.com/SOytpjEE5G
— Polly Doyle (@Peeleens) February 5, 2018
Oswalt reiterated that she was simply on a holiday visa, however more posts involving her work with 'Life Institute' left many fearing she was using the account to spread her pro-life agenda before the upcoming referendum on repealing the 8th amendment.
This is you.
Literally. pic.twitter.com/Qn4XVQxLpV— Paul McClean (@paulmcclean) February 6, 2018
Oswalt clarified she wasn't taking over the account for her own agenda and apologised if her stance made people not like her.
I'm sorry if my stance or past work makes you no longer like me, but I honestly did not come onto this account with any sort of agenda in mind. I'll show you my spreadsheet of tweet ideas if ya want.
— Ireland / Maria (@ireland) February 5, 2018
Given her past, however, many Irish Twitter users were left unconvinced of Oswalt's seemingly good intentions.
State of yer one on the Ireland account all “bloop I’m a cute American talking about socks tee hee!” Fucking nerve of Americans coming over here to stop Irish women from getting healthcare GET FUCKED
— kitty (@redlemonader) February 5, 2018
An american was given the Ireland account and only managed 5 hours of twee memes before a screenshot emerged of her Da going "my blue-haired daughter*lowers sunglasses*...who is going to ireland to keep it abortion free" and now she's getting ratioed into the earth's molten core
— Cruiskeen Lawnmower Deth (@NoChorus) February 5, 2018
A fucking yank can run the Ireland account but if an Irish poc runs it, OOOH HELL NO
— Precious Angel (@NioclasN) February 5, 2018
It’s all going swimmingly on the @ireland account. The new American curator who’s all about the memes forgot to mention she’s a rampant pro-lifer said she’s just visiting forgot to tell her da who says she’s here to ‘save the 8th amendment & keep Ireland abortion free’ ♂️ pic.twitter.com/RUqtqxZHJQ
— LAD (@LADFLEG) February 6, 2018
People leaping to the defence of the @ireland account right now are missing the bigger picture.
How many volunteers are coming from America to work at the Life Institute? Is it okay that foreigners are attempting to subvert the #8thref results?— Aidan O'Brien (@ArtimusFoul) February 5, 2018
