Marcella Cosgrave

Marcella Cosgrave
Born 1868
Dublin, Ireland
Died January 31, 1938(1938-01-31)
Dublin, Ireland
Nationality Irish

Marcella Cosgrave (Marsála Ní Coisghraighe, 1868 – 31 January 1938) was an Irish nationalist. She was a founder member of Inghinidhe na hÉireann and Cumann na mBan. She took part in 1916 Easter Rising and War of Independence.

Background

Cosgrave was born in Dublin c1868. She was a member of the Ladies Land League which had been founded to support the actions of the Irish National Land League and she was present at the founding of Inghinidhe na hÉireann in 1900[1] which were both strongly active nationalist organisations founded by women. In 1901 she was living with her brother and sister, Thomas and Anne, in George's Quay and keeping house for them.[2] In 1911 she filled out her census form in Irish as an act of civil rebellion.[3] She was one of the founders of Cumann na mBan.[4]

1916 involvement

Cosgrave was the Quartermaster in the Jameson's Distillery, Marrowbow Lane Garrison.[5] There, she and 21 other women were amongst the Volunteers protecting the back of the South Dublin Union. As quartermaster Cosgrave aided in getting a cow and her calves during the battle and they milked it to help feed the Volunteers in their garrison. Once the volunteers surrendered Cosgrave was arrested and initially she was also sent to Richmond Barracks. From there they were sent to Kilmainham Gaol. She was kept there for 10 days.[4] She was released on May 8, 1916.[6][7][8]

After the Rising

Between the Rising and the War of Independence many of the women were also involved in supporting the families of the men who remained in prison or had been killed. Cosgrave was a member of the Irish National Aid Association and Volunteer Dependents' Fund. During the summer of 1916 there were a couple of photos taken of the women who had taken part in the rising.[9] The other activities of the Cumann na mBan was to prepare and train in both activities like first aid and also military training. They also collected money, initially for the dependents fund and then later to enable the purchase of weapons for the Republican Army.[10]

She also served in the war of independence but very little information remains about her activities in that war. However her medal for that war is in the Kilmainham Gaol collection.[4]

Cosgrave died on the 31st January 1938.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Bureau of Military history" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  2. ↑ "Census return 1901". Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  3. ↑ "Census return 1911". Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Glasnevin Cemetery Museum.
  5. ↑ "Marrowbow lane medals 1916". Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  6. ↑ "Prison details 1916". Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  7. ↑ "Barracks details 1916". Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  8. ↑ Lorcan Collins (22 February 2016). 1916: The Rising Handbook. O'Brien Press. ISBN 978-1-84717-848-0. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  9. ↑ "Irish Independent 1916 collection" (PDF). Irish Independent News. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  10. ↑ "Bureau of Military history" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-03-15.

External links

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