24 Facts About Lillie Connolly

Lillie Connolly was an Irish socialist and trade union organiser.

Lillie Connolly was the wife of James Connolly, the Irish revolutionary who was involved in the 1916 Easter Rising.

Lillie Connolly's father was John, a farm labourer, and Margaret Reynolds.

Lillie Connolly was a member of the Girls Friendly Society in the Church of Ireland.

In 1887 or 1888, Lillie Connolly met James Lillie Connolly who at that time was in the British Army stationed in Ireland.

Lillie Connolly moved to Scotland around 1889, arriving in Perth, where she believed James had been living, By time she arrived he had moved to Dundee.

Lillie Connolly moved as she had the expectation of marriage, which seemed to surprise James, and he did not immediately travel to meet her.

Lillie Connolly left Perth to move to London to find employment.

Lillie Connolly shunned the public aspects of her husband's work entirely, only attending one meeting only to flee when he took the stage out of fear.

In 1897, Lillie Connolly met Maud Gonne after James was arrested.

Lillie Connolly went ahead on his own, and it took some months to save enough money to rent a house and send tickets for his family to join him, which he was able to do in July 1904.

The family moved to The Bronx in 1907, where Lillie Connolly worked as a washerwoman to supplement her husband's unstable earnings.

When her husband went on hunger strike while he was imprisoned during the 1913 Lockout, Lillie Connolly travelled from Belfast to the Mansion House and successfully demanded that Lord Aberdeen order his release.

Lillie Connolly found life in Belfast hard, and became very isolated despite her daughters' best efforts.

Just before the Rising, Lillie Connolly sold what possessions the family had had and moved back to Dublin from Belfast, staying at Markievicz's cottage at Ticknock.

When both her husband and son were arrested after their surrender Lillie Connolly returned to Dublin, living with William O'Brien and his family.

Lillie Connolly feared that Roddy could be sentenced to death, but he was released after 8 days due to his young age.

Lillie Connolly comforted him, and told him he did not need her forgiveness.

Lillie Connolly was unsuccessful in claiming his belongings, having just his wallet returned.

Lillie Connolly accepted funds from the White Cross, but in 1920 refused a pension from the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union.

Lillie Connolly did attempt to return to the United States with her family, as her husband had wanted, but their passport application was refused.

Lillie Connolly was awarded a military pension, which paid for the education of her youngest daughter, Fiona.

Lillie Connolly died four weeks later on 22 January 1938 at the age of 71.

Lillie Connolly had a state funeral in Dublin on 29 January 1938.