Ellice Pilkington was an Irish women's activist and artist.
16 Facts About Ellice Pilkington
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Ellice Pilkington was born Louisa Ellice Benedicta Grattan Esmonde on 1 September 1869.
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Ellice Pilkington was the second daughter of John Esmonde and Louisa Esmonde.
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Ellice Pilkington's father was an MP and lieutenant-colonel of Waterford artillery militia, of Ballynastragh, Gorey, County Wexford, and her mother was the granddaughter of Henry Grattan.
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Ellice Pilkington had four brothers, Thomas, Laurence, Walter, John, and one sister, Annette.
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Ellice Pilkington was a friend of Horace Plunkett and George Russell.
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Ellice Pilkington was the first volunteer organiser of the UI and was a leading figure during its early years.
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Ellice Pilkington toured extensively in 1910, founding and organising new branches in the south and west of Ireland.
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Ellice Pilkington arrived in County Donegal in December 1910, armed with a map and a thermos flask, whilst there she described emigration as a blight on rural Ireland.
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Ellice Pilkington focused on the role of the UI in teaching and promoting rural housewives to establish home industries, maintain a cleanly home, to provide a healthy diet for the family, and to take an active role in public and intellectual life.
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Ellice Pilkington strongly believed in the need for women to work for the betterment of Ireland through their place in the home.
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Ellice Pilkington held up George Russell as an example of an individual artist who invoked an Irish national narrative.
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Ellice Pilkington did not articulate clearly her own vision of Irish national identity but believed it to be an important issue.
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Ellice Pilkington was shown regularly by the Water Colour Society of Ireland between 1921 and 1936, serving as the group's secretary for a time.
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Ellice Pilkington died at 38 Wellington Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin, on 24 August 1936.
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Ellice Pilkington is interred in the Pilkington family vault, Tyrrellspass, County Westmeath.