Paul J Allen's Constance Markievicz Page

Constance was educated by a governess at Lissadell, Co. Sligo where the family held

extensive estates. She was the eldest of three daughters and two sons and her sister, Eva Gore- Booth would later become a campaigner for women's suffrage. In the monarch jubilee year of

1887 she was presented at court to Queen Victoria and was called 'the new Irish beauty', and

took her place in society as a member of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy. She was also noted as a

fine horsewoman, and as an excellent shot. William Butler Yeats was a frequent guest at

Lissadell. After listening to his stories of Irish myths and folklore and to his passionate

political ideas, she was stirred to action. At that time women were not allowed to vote in

elections or to become Members of Parliament. Markievicz decided to join the suffragettes

who were fighting for women's rights. Around this time she joined the National Union of

Women's Suffrage Societies, a cause she was to remain devoted to throughout her life. In 1893 moved to London to study at the Slade School of Art in London. 898 she

moved to Paris where she continued to study art at the Julian Sch. While there she met and

later married fellow artist Count Casimir Dunin-Markievicz. The Polish widower's family

owned a large estate in Ukraine. After travelling abroad, they returned to Sligo where their

daughter Maeve was born (1901). Maeve was raised by her grandparents. In 1903 Markievicz

moved to Dublin and began to make a name for herself as a landscape artist. Dublin a vibrant

city at the time, a centre for artists, actors, writers and politicians. Markievicz was attracted to

the Gaelic League and the Abbey Theatre. She helped to found the United Arts Club in 1907,

which helped bring together people of the artistic renaissance. Markievicz expressed her

dissatisfaction with this kind of life 'nature should provide me with something to live for,

something to die for'. 1906 rented a cottage at Ballally, Co. Dublin, and came across a number

of old copies of the revolutionary publications the Peasant and Sinn Féin left by a previous

tenant, the poet Pádraig Colum. After reading these, Markievicz knew she had found a cause

to inspire her life. Her interest in the struggle for freedom was aroused. Markievicz became

active in nationalist politics Her aim, make Ireland an independent nation. 1908 she joined

Sinn Féin and Maud Gonne's women group, Inghinidhe na hÉireann (Daughters of Ireland).

She also became a regular contributor to Bean na hÉireann (Women of Ireland), Ireland's first

women's nationalist journal and the United Irishman. She went to Manchester in 1908 and

stood unsuccessfully for election with her sister Eva, who was deeply involved in social

reform. At the suggestion of Bulmer Hobson, she founded Na Fianna Éireann (1909), an

organisation for boys, who were taught to drill and use arms. The movement aimed to

establish an independent reland and also to promote the Irish language. In 1911 Markievicz was arrested when she took part in a demonstration against the

visit of King George V to Ireland. She worked closely with James Connolly who fought for

Irish nationalism and social equality. She ran a soup kitchen in Liberty Hall during the 1913

Dublin lockout. Markievicz then joined the Irish Citizens Army. She had separated from her

husband about 1909 and later worked as a war correspondent in the Balkans. She was strongly opposed to Irish involvement in the Great War and co-founded the Irish Neutrality League in

1914. During the 1916 Rising Markievicz was appointed second in command to Michael

Mallin at St. Stephen's Green. Although condemned to death when the rising was crushed, she had her sentence commuted to penal servitude for life (on account of her sex) and was

imprisoned in Aylesbury Jail. Under the general amnesty of 1917, Markievicz was released

and immediately became a convert to Catholicism-she claimed to have experienced an

epiphany during the rising. In August 1917 she was made a freeman of Sligo. She was made

honorary president of the Irish Women Workers's Union In 1918 she was again arrested by the British during their bogus 'German Plot',

which was aimed at defeating the anti-conscription forces in Ireland. While in prison, she was

returned in the general election of December 1918 for St. Patrick's division of Dublin.

Markievicz became the first woman to be elected to the British Parliament, but in accordance

with Sinn Féin policy she did not take her seat. She refused to take the oath of allegiance to

Constance Markievicz Chronology YEAR EVENT 1868 Born at 7 Buckingham Gate, London, on 4 February 1887 Presented at court to Queen Victoria and was called ‘the new Irish beauty’, and took her place in society as a member of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy 1893 Moved to London to study at the Slade School of Art in London 1898 Moved to Paris where she continued to study art at the Julian Sch. While there she met and later married fellow artist Count Casimir Dunin-Markievicz 1901 After travelling abroad, they returned to Sligo where their daughter Maeve was born 1903 Moved to Dublin and began to make a name for herself as a landscape artist 1906 Rented a cottage at Ballally, Co. Dublin, and came across a number of old copies of the revolutionary publications the Peasant and Sinn Féin 1907 Helped to found the United Arts Club 1908 Joined Sinn Féin and Maud Gonne’s women group, Daughters of Ireland. Stood unsuccessfully for election with her sister Eva, who was deeply involved in social reform. 1909 Separated from her husband. Founded Na Fianna Éireann organisation for boys,taught to drill and use arms. Movement aimed to establish an independent Ireland and promote the Irish language 1911 Arrested when she took part in a demonstration against the visit of King George V to Ireland 1913 Ran a soup kitchen in Liberty Hall during the Dublin lockout 1914 Co-founded the Irish Neutrality League 1916 Easter Rising appointed 2nd in command to Michael Mallin at St. Stephen’s Green condemned to death when rising crushed. Had sentence commuted to penal servitude for life (due to her sex) 1917 Under General Amnesty released and immediately became a convert to Catholicism. Made a freeman of Sligo and honorary president of the Irish Women Workers’s Union 1918 Became the first woman to be elected to the British Parliament, but in accordance with Sinn Féin policy she did not take her seat. She refused to take the oath of allegiance to the King 1919 Appointed Minister for Labour. She was arrested in the summer of 1919 for making a seditious speech, and was sentenced to four months’ hard labour 1920 Arrested again received a sentence of two years’ hard labour 1921 Denounced the Anglo-Irish treaty 1922 Toured America in 1922 to enlist support for the Republican cause. 1923 Elected as Sinn Féin abstentionist TD for Dublin City South 1926 When de Valera formed Fianna Fáil in 1926 Markievicz became a member 1927 General election conducted her own campaign, re-elected to the Dáil. Died in a public ward in Sir Patrick Dun’s Hospital, Dublin on 15 July 1927

Constance Markievicz Countess Constance Georgina Markievicz [née Gore-Booth] (1868-1927) Countess Constance Georgina Markievicz [née Gore-

Booth] (1868-1927), revolutionary and politician; born at 7

Buckingham Gate, London, on 4 February 1868. Her father, the

philanthropist Henry Gore-Booth, was also an Arctic explorer and a

landlord in the west of Ireland, and was married to Georgina May

Hill, of Tickhill Castle, York.

the King. She was a member of the first Dáil Éireann, which met on the 21 January 1919, and was appointed Minister for Labour. She was arrested in the summer of 1919 for making a seditious

speech, and was sentenced to four months' hard labour. After being arrested again in 1920 she received a sentence of two years' hard labour.

She denounced the 1921 Anglo-Irish treaty establishing the Irish Free State within the British Commonwealth, in the Dáil after being released from prison early under the general amnesty

that followed its signing. She toured America (1922) to enlist support for the Republican cause, stating 'It is the capitalist interests in England and Ireland that are pushing this Treaty to block the

march of the working people in England and Ireland ... Now I say that Ireland's freedom is worth blood, and worth my blood, and I will willingly give it for it, and I appeal to the men of the Dáil to

stand true'. As leader of Cumann na mBan, an opponent of the Irish Free State, she supported the 'Irregulars' during the Civil War, for which she was imprisoned. She was released soon after she went on hunger strike in protest. In the general election (1923) she was elected as Sinn Féin abstentionist TD for Dublin City South. When de Valera formed Fianna Fáil (1926) she became a member.

During the 1927 general election she conducted her own campaign and re-elected to the Dáil. For some years her health was failing. She died in a public ward in Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital, Dublin on

15 July 1927. The working-class people of Dublin lined the streets of Dublin for her funeral. Eamonn de Valera was one of the pall-bearers. She is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, Co. Dublin and

commemorated by a limestone bust in St. Stephen's Green, by a plaque in St. Ultan's Hospital and by the Yeats's poem 'In memory of Eva Gore-Booth and Constance Markievicz'.

Lissadell House is the famous childhood home of Constance Markievicz, her sister Eva Gore Booth and her brother Josslyn Gore Booth. Constance was one of the leaders of the 1916 Rising,

and was the first woman to be elected to Dail Eireann,where she served as Minister for Labour (thus becoming the first woman minister in a modern European democracy), and Sligo born poet W. B.

Yeats was friendly with the Gore Booth sisters when he and they were young. Lisadell House He stayed at Lissadell in 1893 and 1894, and immortalised Lissadell and the Gore Booth sisters in his

poetry.was also the first woman to be elected to the House of Commons at Westminster, London (where she declined to take her seat). Eva was a poet of distinction and an active suffragist. Josslyn

created at Lissadell one of the premier horticultural estates in Europe. This horticultural enterprise is now being recreated at Lissadell.

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