Women played a vital Role in the Irish Revolutionary movement In the years 1913-23, including The Easter Rising, where women fought Side-by-side with their male counterparts in Most of the risings outposts in Dublin, Enniscorthy & Galway during Easter Week of 1916. After the surrender, 77 of these women were arrested along with their male colleagues and taken to Richmond Barracks in Inchicore, Dublin. This book enriches our knowledge of the Revolutionary period by telling the history of the 1916 rising from a more nuanced and balanced perspective through the lens of these women’s lives and contribution. Containing detailed biographies of the 77 women, this book reveals motivation to take part in the 1916 rising as well as looking at their lives post-rising and post-independence. Narrated from the view of the women’s involvement, the commitment and depth of the contribution of women to the Rising is rediscovered. -- Publisher description

'Women of the Irish Revolution' tells the story of the role that women played both directly and indirectly in the Irish revolution. These women were vital to the revolutionary movement. They were part of a generation who made a conscious decision to stand up for not only their rights, but also the rights of future generations, at a time when society viewed the role of women as that of mother and wife. The independence movement could not have succeeded without their contribution, which saw them put themselves in great danger in order to help free their country. The book also tells the story of those who, though not directly involved, lost so much as a result of that conflict. For they were the wives, mothers, sisters and girlfriends of the men who fought for Irish freedom, and their story is one that needs to be told. History, they say, is written by the victors, and more often than not the victors are men. The women from this period are the forgotten generation and it is now time to remember them.

The story of the Hales family from Bandon epitomises the whole revolutionary period in Ireland. They were involved from the establishment of the Irish Volunteers in West Cork and were closely associated with well-known revolutionary figures, including Michael Collins, Tom Barry and Liam Deasy. Both Seán and Tom were company commanders in the IRA in the area. The signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921 split the family and led to the two brothers taking opposing sides in the Civil War that would follow. Tom Hales was the most senior Republican officer on the scene of the chaotic ambush at Béal na mBláth that led to the shooting of Michael Collins. Seán Hales was himself assassinated in Dublin by Republicans, following a vote in Dáil Éireann to allow the Provisional Government to increase its powers to penalise Republican prisoners.The story of these brothers and the rest of the family gives a unique insight into life in Ireland in this tumultuous period.

This volume of essays examines the material and visual culture of the 1916 Rising - from museum displays and family keepsakes to imagery in art and film - to consider how these can illuminate changing perceptions of this iconic event in Irish history.

Captures the feel of Ireland more than any other book.

A look at the Irish Volunteers who fought in the South Dublin Union building during the 1916 Easter Rising.