26 Facts About Helena Concannon

Helena Concannon was an Irish historian, writer, language scholar and Fianna Fail politician.

Helena Concannon attended university at the Royal University of Ireland in Belfast and then the National University of Ireland.

Helena Concannon studied abroad at the Sorbonne University Paris, Berlin University and in Rome.

Helena Concannon was Professor of History at University College Galway.

Helena Concannon was first elected to Dail Eireann as a Fianna Fail Teachta Dala at the 1933 general election for the National University constituency.

Helena Concannon was re-elected at each successive election and served in the Seanad until she died in 1952.

Helena Concannon's husband was the Irish scholar Tomas Ban O Conceanainn, a national health inspector, and she authored several books as "Mrs Thomas Concannon".

Helena Concannon studied abroad during these years as in 1899, she travelled to Germany and studied German in Berlin University accompanied by her friend, Mary Macken.

Helena Concannon then travelled to France to study French in Sorbonne.

In 1900, Helena Concannon graduated Bachelor of Arts with first class honours and went on to study Master of Arts in 1902 at the Royal University of Ireland.

Helena Concannon was fortunate to being one of the first generation of educated women.

In 1906, Helena Concannon married Tomas Ban O Conceanainn who she met in 1900, when he arrived home from America.

In Galway, Helena Concannon was a professor at University College Galway where she taught history, which mainly involved the history of Irish Women.

In 1909, Helena Concannon was offered a lectureship at University College Dublin, in Italian, but the offer was then drawn before she could accept, so she decided to pursue a writing career.

Helena Concannon produced over twenty books, including works on religion, history of Ireland and Irish women's history.

Helena Concannon's works were highly impacted by her political and nationalist views.

Helena Concannon produced a number of imaginative historical text for children.

Helena Concannon used her married name for her publications and her first book was published in 1914 titled as A Garden of girls, or the famous schoolgirls of former days, it was about 'school life and education of real little girls'.

Helena Concannon's next well known piece was the Life of St Columban in 1915, which was a study about the Irish ancient monastic life and a biography of a sixth-century saint.

Helena Concannon was elected to the 8th Dail for Fianna Fail at the 1933 general election for the National University of Ireland constituency, serving from 8 February 1933 till 14 June 1937.

Helena Concannon went on to vote that the Dail should disagree with the Seanad propose bill with 71 others.

Helena Concannon spoke on behalf of Irish women in the Dail in 1936.

Helena Concannon spoke on how Irish women a fundamental role in Ireland's agricultural economy and so more money should be put towards educating these women.

Helena Concannon was one of the minority voices against the role appointed to women in Eamon de Valera's constitution.

Helena Concannon did not contest the Dail election of 1937.

Helena Concannon was a popular figure and was re-elected each election in the Seanad until she died in office in 1952.