Maud Gonne, fighter for Women's Equality and Irish Independence by Nettie Gillespie

Maud Gonne Mc Bride was born in December 1865, into a privileged English family. Her mother died when Maud was six. Her father was a colonel in the British army and spent a large part of his career in Ireland before dying in 1885.

Maud reputed the political ideals of her family in favour of fighting for the 'Irish Cause'. In doing so, she played a pivotal role in fighting for women's rights also and was one of the founding members of organisations fighting for Irish Independence and the oppression and exclusion of women in Ireland. Among her many achievements were the Women's land leagues in the 1800's and the foundation of Inghinidhe Na hEireann which not only impacted Ireland's political history but also Social and Cultural history.

During Ireland's early history, women were very much oppressed and largely excluded from all Nationalist groups and organisations. Maud's commitment and persistence led to an Ireland where women's views were taken into account and subsequently played a major part in Ireland's fight for freedom and advocating for the oppressed in Ireland.

In the 1800's, during the women's land league, her aspirations to fight for the Irish cause brought her to Donegal, where evictions were taking place. Her work here included building land league huts, nursing the sick and the dying, raising funds and writing letters to the press. The Donegal tenants called her 'The Woman of the Sidhe' after the mythical fairy guardians. However she was forced to flee to France after a warrant for her arrest.

She was a major influence in the 1900's founding the Celtic Literary Society and the Patriotic Children's treat committee. She hoped to entertain a large part of the 30,000 children they believed would be eligible. Following this, Maud Gonne founded Inghinidhe na hEireann in an effort to form a permanent National Women's Committee with its aims of re-establishing the complete Independence of Ireland, encouraging Irish language and discouraging English Literature. Had Inghinidhe na hEireann not existed, a whole generation of women would never have developed the self confidence to enable them to stand on their own as a voice among men. Through Inghinidhe na hEireann and the Celtic Literary Society and Irish theatre evolved which led to the formation of the abbey theatre.

Throughout her lifetime, many men were to fall in love with her. She married John McBride in Paris in 1903, had their son Sean in 1904, separated in 1905 where McBride returned to Ireland. She remained in France until 1917 as she was afraid the McBrides would sue for custody of Sean if she were to return to Ireland. Her most famous admirer was W.B. Yeats who based many poems and plays on her and who indeed himself had dreams of setting up and Irish theatre. She refused his proposal of marriage but remained good friends.

Maud died in April 1953 after devoting 60 years of her life to Irish causes during which she had many achievements, culturally, socially and politically.

Political History - Countess Markievicz by Maureen Hegarty

Constance Gore-Booth was born in London in 1868. Her father was Sir Henry Gore-Booth, the famous arctic explorer. He was also a kind Anglo-Irish landlord. During the famine year of 1879 Constance was living in Lissadell House in Sligo, Ireland.

In 1893 she went to London to study painting, also joining the 'National Union of Women's suffrage'. Constance met Count Markievicz of Polish origin in 1898. They married in 1901. Returning to live in Dublin in 1903, she co-founded the 'United Artists Club'.

In 1908 she joined Sinn Féin and the 'Daughters of Ireland' and in the same year also helped defeat Winston Churchill in a Manchester by-election.

In 1909 Constance set up 'Fianna Éireann'. It's aim was to instruct the youth army in the use of firearms.

She was jailed in 1913 for speaking out at a rally in protest of George Vs visit to Dublin. The same year she joined James Connolly who had set up the 'Irish Citizens Army' in protest against the lock out of workers. Her marriage also ended this year with her husband returning to Europe.

For six days she was second in command at Stephen's Green during the 1916 rising. She was sentenced to death, but pardoned because she was a woman. She was put in Kilmainham jail for life where she told them 'I do wish your lot had the decency to shoot me.' While in jail she was elected to Sinn Féin in 1917 after the government granted amnesty to her.

In 1918 she was jailed again but with 92 other women on hunger strike. They were released due to embarrassment to the Irish and British governments. Upon her release she was elected to the English parliament but refused to take her seat. She was the first woman to be elected to the House of Commons.

Constance became a Labour Minister in 1919 serving in the first Dáil. In 1922 she joined De Valera in opposition to the Anglo-Irish treaty. Again she was imprisoned, but this time by her former comrades in arms.

In 1926 she became a member of Fianna Fáil and was elected to the Dáil but she died on the 15th July aged 59, five weeks before she was due to take her seat in the Dáil.

During her life time in Dublin she had compassion for the poor setting up soup kitchens and visiting slums. It is thought she may have caught Tuberculosis while doing this. It is also thought her compassion was inherited from her father, who had showed kindness to the poor during famine years.

W.B. Yeats (her friend in Sligo) wrote a poem entitled 'In memory of Eva Gore-Booth and Constance Markievicz. 25,000 people lined the streets as her cortege was driven to Glasnevin cemetary. She had one daughter who was reared with the Markievicz grandparents. Her religion was Church of Ireland.