IrElAnD 1911–1923 Women and the Easter Rising


Between 24 and 29 April 1916 almost 1,500 rebels took over the city centre in Dublin, placing garrisons in the GPO on O’Connell St, City Hall, the Four Courts, Boland’s Mill, Jacob’s factory and the Royal College of Surgeons in St Stephen’s Green. Most rebels were members of the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Citizen Army. About 300 were women and girls, members of the women’s nationalist group Cumann na mBan and the worker’s militia, the Irish Citizen Army. The Irish Citizen Army was set to defend the workers of Dublin from attack by police during the 1913 Lockout. Women could join on an equal basis to men. Kathleen Lynn, Rosie Hackett, Helena Molony and Countess Markievicz were all members. Cumann na mBan had been set up in April, 1914, at a meeting in Wynn’s Hotel in Dublin. The members of the first executive included Jenni Wyse Power, Agnes O’Farrelly and Louise Gavan Duffy. Between 1914 and 1916 Cumann na mBan formed four branches in Dublin and many branches throughout the country. By 1916 there were hundreds of members in Dublin and 300 took part in the Rising. They were stationed in all garrisons, except Boland’s Mill. They served as nurses and first aid workers; they cooked food, carried messages and worked as spies gathering intelligence for the rebels; a few participated in military action. Margaret Skinnider of the Irish Citizen Army was wounded when she tried to kill a sniper. Elizabeth O’Farrell of Cumann na mBan negotiated the final surrender for the rebels and stood beside Patrick Pearse as he surrendered on their behalf. Many female rebels managed to escape but seventy-seven were arrested along with hundreds of men. One woman, Countess Markievicz, was court-martialled and sentenced to death but, because of her gender, her sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. Most of the other women were kept in Kilmainham Jail for 10 days and then released. After their release they re-joined Cumann na mBan and began preparing for the next phase of revolution.


Dr Mary McAuliffe, University College Dublin Women’s History Association of Ireland


15


Women in


History


417


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