In Their Own Voice
WOMEN AND IRISH NATIONALISM
THE CELTIC CONNECTION « NOVEMBER 1996
A Fascinating Story of Determination and Courage
IN THEIR OWN VOICE: WOMEN AND IRISH NATIONALISM
By Margaret Ward Attic Press - Dublin ISBN 1 85594 101 5
"The English may batter us to pieces but they will never succeed in breaking our spirit." — Maud Gonne MacBride, 1921
Reviewed by Sharon Greer Historically, women's immeasurable contributions in any struggle for freedom have always taken the back seat. In Their Own Voice: Women and Irish Nationalism is historian Margaret Ward's most recent work and a priceless collection of those women's voices rising up from the archives of history.
Ward pays homage to the invaluable efforts of the numerous republican women who devoted their energies and lives in the endless hope of emancipation from Ireland. Through letters, speeches and autobiographies, this anthology goes back in time to cover the period from 1897 to 1943.
Naturally, Constance de Marke-vicz, Maud Gonne MacBride and Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington top the list of substantial women quoted throughout this mass of significant documentation.
By far, the most powerful speech in this collection, is Maud Gonne's brilliant polemic on Queen Victoria's visit to Ireland in 1900. Entitled, The Famine Queen, it was first published in her Paris-based paper, LTrelande Libre.
It is a deservedly scathing commentary on the Queen's despicable efforts to recruit soldiers for the Boer War.
In light of the horrendous evictions that had occurred in Ireland in the Queen's name, it was deplorable for the woman to even step foot on this island. The
article was reprinted in The United Irishman but suppressed by the authorities.
There are unlimited savoury titbits throughout these writings. It was Maire de Bhuitleir (Mary Ellen Butler) who suggested the name of Sinn Fein for Arthur Griffith's new organization.
He was looking for a title which would describe self-sufficiency, passive resistance and abstention from British parliament. Sinn Fein (Ourselves Alone) were exactly the words which expressed his meaning.
The most humourous anecdote was on the founding of Inghi-nidhe na h-Eireann (Daughters of Erin) and their first meeting.
The women's group presented Arthur Griffith with a blackthorn stick in appreciation of his breaking his own over the head of the editor of the society paper, Figaro. The silly editor had absurdly suggested Maud Gonne was in the pay of the British Government!
In 1918, Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington visited the U.S. to present a
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Cumann na mBan Memorial on Irish Freedom to President Wilson. She was the first Sinn Feiner to enter the White House.
The tremendous responsibilities of the women who contributed to the struggle during 1916 were extremely important.
The women's main activities were scouting and intelligence work. Women in Cumann na mBan (the women's army) acted as couriers on bicycles.
The advantage being that women wore long dresses and could hide the weapons underneath and police checks for women were infrequent.
We need many more books of this calibre on the history of women in Ireland. Ward's research is a very valuable and fascinating account of strong and courageous women.
Her previous work includes Unmanageable Revolutionaries and Maud Gonne: Ireland's Joan of Arc. Currently, she is researching a book on the Irish suffragette and feminist, Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington.
WRITERS FESTIVAL HIT THE MARK
VANCOUVER — The Writers Festival is always a much anticipated event on my autumn calendar. I am rarely disappointed and this year was no exception.
The delightful, eccentric English mystery writer, P.D. James, was on hand at the exquisite downtown Waterfront Hotel to read from her latest work Original Sin.
Known for her strong sense of
place and setting, James has set this latest story set on the Thames, with a publishing house as the backdrop.
The dramatization of this book can be seen on an upcoming PBS Mystery! program.
An equally talented author at the festival was the Limerick-born Irish-American, Michael Collins.
After waiting through seven
other readings at the Starfish Room, I finally heard Collins reading from his most recent collection of short stories The Feminists Go Swimming.
When he stepped forward to speak at 11 PM, Collins claimed to be "tired and drunk." After announcing that his uncle was an abusive man who eventually killed his aunt, he read a short story from his book.
The story he chose was about an abusive husband and his abusive beatings upon his pitiful wife.
His poetic rending of this moving account truly revealed his strong sense of the written word through the Irish oral storytelling tradition. It is always exciting to discover or hear for the first time a new, highly gifted scribe.
— Sharon Brown
If you're thinking of moving back home you'll already know what Northern Ireland has to offer - a better quality of life all round.
LEDU, the Small Business Agency for Northern Ireland, invites enquiries from ex-Northern Ireland residents who are considering returning home to start a small business*
LEDU can help with the following:
- Marketing and technical support
- Professional business counselling
- Business start financial assistance
- Relocation advice
For further information
on how to
Make-It-Back-Home
please contact our local representative-Brad Chappell Tel:604 738 5715
•LEDU can help with activities including manufacturing and tradeable services. We cannot help with retailing, wholesale, tourism and agricultural based business ideas.