Women of the Easter Rising

The 1916
Easter Rising

The 1916 Easter Rising was a defining moment in Ireland’s long struggle for freedom. During Easter Week, April 24–29, 1916, a small but determined group of Irish men and women—teachers, poets, laborers, and everyday citizens—rose up in Dublin to proclaim an independent Irish Republic. Led by figures such as Patrick Pearse, James Connolly, and Countess Markievicz, the rebels seized key locations and read aloud the Proclamation of the Republic, declaring Ireland’s right to self-determination after centuries of British rule.

The cover of 'The Fenian's Progress' published in 1865

Photo: Joseph McGarrity Collection, Falvey Memorial Library, Villanova University

Recollections of an Irish Rebel by John Devoy, first published in 1929. Click image to read in full. (Image: Internet Archive

For six days, they held out against overwhelming British military power. Though the Rising was suppressed and its leaders executed, their sacrifice awakened the Irish people and inspired a renewed commitment to independence. The Rising became a turning point, transforming grief into resolve and planting the seeds that would lead to the eventual birth of the Irish Republic.

Did you know: The Easter Lily tradition began in 1926 with the Cumann na mBan (Women's Association) to honor the sacrifice of the men and women of the 1916 Rising and raise funds for Republican prisoners' dependents

Did you know: Traditionally, they were sold outside church gates on Easter Sunday

Did you know: The lily's colors (green, white, and orange) are seen as symbolic of the Irish flag, representing the unity between different traditions within the Irish nation

Women's Museum of Ireland | https://www.womensmuseumofireland.ie/
Easter Rising Stories | https://www.facebook.com/EasterRisingStories
Dublin 1916 - 1923 Then & Now | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067403499307

Eight Women of the Easter Rising

Several hundred women took part in the 1916 Easter Rising, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male comrades in Ireland’s fight for freedom. They carried dispatches under fire, provided vital medical care, and, in many cases, took up arms themselves. Most of these women were members of organizations such as Inghinidhe na hÉireann, Cumann na mBan, and the Irish Citizen Army, groups that gave them both the training and the opportunity to play their rightful role in the struggle for independence.

Yet, despite their widespread involvement, only 157 women’s names are officially recorded on the Roll of Honor. This gap between participation and recognition reflects how women’s contributions were often minimized or overlooked. Still, their courage and dedication left an indelible mark on Ireland’s history, reminding us that the Rising was not only a fight for national freedom but also a moment when Irish women claimed their place in that story.

Dr. Kathleen Lynn (1874 - 1955)
Serving as chief medical officer of the Rising, she provided medical care under fire and embodied the union of professional skill with revolutionary commitment.

She gave Medical Training to recruits to the Irish Citizen Army and allowed her home to be used as a munitions store. She famously described herself as “a Red Cross doctor and a belligerent” when arrested.
After the Rising, Dr Lynn went on to co-found St. Ultan’s Hospital for Infants.

Winifred Carney (1887- 1943)
Known as “the typist with a typewriter and a revolver,” she worked alongside James Connolly at the GPO, balancing administrative duties with armed defense.
When Connolly was wounded in action (he would later be carried to his execution on a stretcher), Ms. Carney ignored orders to evacuate and stayed with him until after the surrender.

Countess Markievicz (1868 -1927)
A member of the Irish Citizen Army, she commanded troops at St. Stephen’s Green and fought in combat. Later, she became the first woman elected to the British Parliament, though she refused her seat in line with Sinn Féin’s abstentionist policy. Instead she became the only woman to hold a cabinet position, as Minister of Labor, in the first Irish Assembly.

Countess Markievicz was the only woman sentenced to death for her role in the Rising. Her sentence was later commuted to life in prison because of her gender and she was ultimately released in an amnesty in 1917.

Nurse Elizabeth O’Farrell (1884 - 1957)
A devoted nurse and courier, she carried the white flag of surrender from the GPO to the British Army, a moment captured in photographs that symbolize both sacrifice and resilience.
Ms. O’Farrell was chosen by Padraig Pearse, the spokesman for the rebels, to deliver the surrender notice to the British. As well as being airbrushed from the photo of the surrender taken later with Pearse, Ms. O’Farrell was omitted from Neil Jordan’s 1996 biopic “Michael Collins.” In that film, the surrender note was delivered by a man.

Kathleen Clarke (1878 - 1972)
Wife of Tom Clarke, one of the executed leaders of the Rising, she was deeply involved in the nationalist movement, supported the Rising’s planning, and afterward worked tirelessly to preserve its memory and legacy.

Rosie Hackett (1892 - 1976)A trade unionist and revolutionary, Hackett played a vital role in organizing and supporting the Rising, helping with logistics, communications, and supplies, and later became a champion for labor rights in Ireland.

Mary Josephine (Min) Mulcahy (1884 - 1977)

An active member of Cumann na mBan, Mulcahy served as a courier, delivering messages and arms during the Rising, and continued her commitment to Irish independence afterward.

Margaret Skinnider (1892 - 1971)

A Scottish schoolteacher and member of Cumann na mBan, she fought with rifle in hand, was wounded in battle, and survived to tell her story.During the Rising Ms. Skinnider served as a sniper and was shot three times. When she recovered she returned to work as a teacher and campaigner for women’s rights. She is buried in Dublin next to Countess Markievicz.