Cumann na mBan

In reaction to these events the Irish Volunteers were founded to oppose the Ulster Volunteer Force and support Home Rule. With the foundation of the Irish Volunteers many women felt that it wouldbe appropriate to go about founding an organisation that would unite women of Ireland in an independent body that would work in conjunction with the Volunteers, furthering their cause. Jennie Wyse Power later recalled the months following the foundation of the Volunteers: “Many informal meetings took place to discuss the formation of a women’s society whose aim would be to work independently, and at the same time to organise Nationalist women to be of service to the Irish Volunteers. The Ulster Women’s Council was at this time working to assist theUlster Volunteers, and it was found that their method in the main was practical and worth considering”These informal meetings led to the the inaugural public meeting of the Irish Women’s Council or Cumann na mBan.

One of the most important funerals in Irish history which culminated with the historic oration given by Patrick Pearse and ultimately led the the Easter Rising in 1916.

Patrick Pearse, 1914 portrait.

Elizabeth O’Farrell was born in Dublin in November 1883. In 1906 she joined Inghinidhe na hÉireann and along with her lifelong friend Julia Grenan she also joined Cumann na mBan, the women’s branch of the Irish Volunteers.As plans were put in place for the Easter Rising of April 1916, Elizabeth and Julia were sent around the country as couriers delivering important information.When the rebellion began on Easter Monday, April 24th 1916 several women were in the General Post Office in Dublin. As casualties mounted, Julia and Elizabeth tended to the wounded. When the order came to evacuate, the two women decided to remain behind.On Saturday 29th April the decision was made by Padraig Pearse to surrender. Elizabeth was chosen to deliver the documents to the British troops. She was then charged with the task of delivering surrender orders to all of the outposts around the city, telling them to lay down their arms and line up in O’Connell Street.After a short period of imprisonment Elizabeth was released. She remained an ardent republican for the rest of her life and worked as a midwife in the National Maternity Hospital.Elizabeth O’Farrell died in June 1957 and is buried in Glasnevin cemetery.