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THE CELTIC CONNECTION » MAY 1994
REAL ESTATE
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Maud Gonne MacBride A Stunning Biography
MAUD GONNE Ireland's Joan of Arc Margaret Ward ISBN 0-04-440583-9
BOOKS
"Force is the only remedy for a people who have let a stranger get hold of their land." She added that talk was good in its place, "but if it has not force behind it, it cuts no ice." — Maud Gonne
Reviewed by Sharon Greer At the end of 1949 and the beginning of 1950, when Maud Gonne was 84 years of age, she was invited to give a series of radio broadcasts on the fiftieth anniversary of the creation of Inghinidhe na hEireann (Daughters of Erin). The above quote is extracted from one of these pro-
f;rams and is a compelling out-ook considering the period in which it was said.
As one of the founders of Inghinidhe and its president for many years, Gonne and other members put as its prime motivation "the re-establishment of the complete independence of Ireland" in other words, removing British rule from Ireland.
Margaret Ward's impressive, stunning biography, Maud Gonne, Ireland's Joan of Arc is a genuinely splendid account of one of the most dynamic and engaging women of Irish history.
Born in the very centre of upper-class Victorian England in 1866, Maud was the daughter of a British army officer whose family were wealthy wine importers from London. Her mother's people were wealthy London drapers. For a good idea of the extent of her family's vast prosperity, when her great-grandfather died in 1869, his fortune was in excess of $2,000,000.
Maud Gonne was a fascinating, enchanting and alluring charac-
ter who sadly is best remembered as the unrequited love of W.B. Yeats.
Many of Yeats' poems were written and dedicated to her and although she was to remain a close friend of Yeats (apart from a few tense years when Yeats was a senator in the repressive Cumman na nGael government of the Twenties), her role as an Irish freedom fighter and the tremendous contribution and support she gave to the poor and imprisoned Irish people was far greater than her association with Yeats. (And yes, I know their affiliation contributed immensely to literature.)
Her early years of tireless work and concern for the disadvantaged sections of society are particularly stirring in her connection with the people of Donegal and her fight against the eviction of hundreds by ruthless landlords during the reign of Queen Victoria (The Famine Queen, as Maud described her). Something to think about as we celebrate the Victoria Day holiday!
As a nationalist, Maud Gonne fought for many admirable causes, including her work with Inghinidhe. But more than likely she will be remembered best for her involvement with the Women's Prisoners Defence League (WPDL), established to fight for the rights of republican prisoners in appalling prison conditions.
For her time, Maud was an unconventional, courageous woman and this fabulous rebel bore two children. The first, Iseult, was from a relationship she had with Lucien Millevove, a Frenchman she lived with in Paris. Her second, Sean (MacBride), was from her marriage to John MacBride, who died during the 1916 Uprising.
Sean MacBride was a member of the (Old) IRA for 20 years and later became well-known in his association with the human rights movement (he was a co-founder of Amnesty International). MacBride also won the Nobel Prize for Peace. And in the words of his formidable mother, "peace and freedom are the only worthwhile things to strive for, and they are indivisible."
Margaret Ward is currently researching the life of the Irish feminist and socialist, Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington, who was a close friend of Maud Gonne.
Roisin Sheehy-Culhane, a Vancouver political activist, is the
freat-niece of Hanna Sheehy-keffin-gton and I'm looking forward to doing an interview with Roisin along with writing a book review on Ward's upcoming and undoubtedly, absorbing chronicle of yet another remarkable woman who helped shape Irish history.
John MacBride Epitomized Irish Nationalism
By EAMON CHANDLER
John MacBride was born on May 7, 1865, at Westport, County Mayo, into a prosperous merchant class family. When he was old enough, his father used his influence to obtain an apprenticeship for him with John Fitzpatrick, a draper at Castlerea, County Roscommon.
During this period, he came into contact with the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB)/ witn which he was associated for the rest of his life.
He was also involved with the formation of the Gaelic Athletic Association, along with Michael Cusack in Dublin and Pat Nally in Mayo. Nally was later arrested for treason and sentenced to ten years in Mountjoy prison.
As a 15-year old, John was greatly impressed by the visit of the uncrowned King of Ireland, Charles Stewart Parnell, at a monster rally in his native Westport.
Eleven years later, he witnessed the return of his boyhood hero, when Parnell died suddenly at Brighton, on October 6,1891.
The following morning, the boat steamed into Kingston (Dun Laoghaire) carrying the body of Ireland's greatest leader. Included in the ship's passengers, coincidentally, was Maud Gonne, still mourning the tragic death of her first child.
The solemn event was one of the
freatest political funerals ever to e seen in Ireland and its memory was to be etched forever in McBride's mind. MacBride was one of the 2,000 GAA men who marched in the cortege, each carrying hurley sticks — held in reverse to resemble a rifle—draped in black.
As Parnell's coffin was being lowered into the grave, thousands of those present claimed to have witnessed a falling star light up the sky.
The following month, he attended the funeral of Pat Nally, his kinsman who had died mysteriously in Mountjoy. This time, MacBride took part as a member of the IRB.
In 1865, John was sent on a secret mission, as the Dublin delegate to a convention in Chicago. At this time, the police were keeping close observation on known members of secret societies, and there exists a report on him, stating he was an "active Secret Society man."
Shortly afterwards, with his friend Arthur Griffith, he emigrated to South Africa where he obtained work as an assayer in the gold mines.
He was a main activating force of the Irish Society in Johannesburg and on the centenary of the 1798 Rising, a big parade marched through the town. It was led by a band waving Irish and
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