An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir April 2014 www.dfmagazine.ie 26 | A t the inaugural meeting of the Irish Volunteers in No- vember 1913, the president of the organisation, Eoin MacNeill, announced that there would be "work for the women". Five months later, in April 1914, the first meet- ing of the Cumann na mban (the league of women) was held at Wynne's hotel in Dublin. The aims of the organisation, as laid out in their constitution, were to advance the cause of Irish liberty and to assist in the arming and equipping of a body of Irishmen. Though the meeting was held in the afternoon, which prevented many working women from attending, the foun- dations of the organisation were laid. Those that attended this meeting were described as being from all classes and 'all shades of nationalist thought'. Though the possibility of women taking an active part in the defence of Ireland was ruled out, the militarism of the organi- sation was evident in their uniform and in their banner and badge, which carried the motif of a rifle intertwined with the initials of the organisation. While the rise of cultural movements in Ireland like the Gaelic League (1893) attracted a large number of females, women were excluded from political organisations. However, the founding of Inghinidhe na hÉireann (Daughters of Erin) in the early 20th century by Maud Gonne gave many women an outlet for their political beliefs. The aims of that group were the complete independence of Ireland, the revival of the Irish language and the restoration of Irish customs, sports and games. Unlike the many female organisations in England who sought suffrage, women's groups in Ireland objected to the vote being granted by 'a hostile parliament'. The Lockout of 1913 caused many women to become politi- cised and the Irish Citizen Army, which had been formed in November 1913, welcomed women into its ranks. Home Rule had been the main objective of Irish nationalists since the early 19th century but it was not until 1912 when the Third Home Rule Bill was being ratified that politics in Ireland was radically changed. In response to the Third Home Rule Bill the Ulster Volunteer Force was formed to resist any attempt to impose Home Rule in Ireland, and in November 1913 Irish nationalists formed the Irish Volunteers in order to defend against any attempt to oppose Home Rule. Many members of the Cumann na mBan were angered at their exclusion from being part of the Volun- teers' executive and the idea that they were subordinate to the movement. In May 1914, Inghinidhe na hÉireann was absorbed into Cu- mann na mBan. By October 1914 Cumann na mBan, according to Margaret Ward in Unmanageable Revolutionaries, had over 60 branches, some of which had as many as 100 members. The four Dublin branches were attached to the four battalions of the Irish Volunteers. Funds were raised by organising céilís, concerts, dances and other social events, with the proceeds being used to purchase arms and ammunition. This was known as the 'Defence of Ireland Fund.' In December 1914 at its first convention, the organisation was now styling itself as 'an independent body of National- ist Irishwomen'. When the Volunteers split over Redmond's call for men to enlist in the war ef fort, Cumann na mBan issued a statement: by PAUL O'BRIEN WoMEN A groupshot of some of the ordinary women who went on to do extraordinary things for Irish Independence. oF SuBStaNCE 'Birth of the Irish Republic' by Walter Paget, depicting the GPO and Cumann na mBan during the shelling of 1916.

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