1. Mary MacSwiney was an Irish republican activist and politician, as well as a teacher.
36 Facts About Mary MacSwiney
1. 2.
Mary, alongside her sister-in-law Muriel MacSwiney kept daily vigil over Terence and effectively became spokespeople for the campaign.
3.
Terence MacSwiney would ultimately die in October 1920, and from then on Mary MacSwiney acted as an unofficial custodian of his legacy, becoming a dogged and zealous advocate of Irish Republicanism.
4.
Mary MacSwiney's father was a fervent Irish nationalist and imparted those values to all of his children, including Mary.
5.
Mary MacSwiney worked at Hillside Convent, Farnborough, and considered becoming a nun, beginning a one-year noviciate with the Oblates of St Benedict, Ventnor.
6.
Mary MacSwiney attended the first meeting of the Munster Women's Franchise League, becoming a committee member.
7.
Mary MacSwiney opposed militancy within the Irish suffrage movement, and her nationalist views caused irritation to other members.
8.
Mary MacSwiney attended the first meeting of the Munster Women's Franchise League, becoming a committee member.
9.
Mary MacSwiney opposed militancy within the Irish suffrage movement, and her nationalist views caused irritation to other members.
10.
That same year Mary MacSwiney denounced British rule at their general convention in November 1914.
11.
Mary MacSwiney, who had been running messages for the Volunteers, attempted to return to teaching at St Angela's but she too was arrested later in the week during class.
12.
In 1917 Mary MacSwiney was elected to the national executive of a newly reorganised Cumann na mBan, marking her increasing seniority amongst the women's side of the Republican movement.
13.
Mary MacSwiney ended up paying a considerable amount of money of her own to cover the costs of the tour.
14.
At the 1921 Irish elections, Mary MacSwiney was elected for Sinn Fein to the Cork Borough constituency, taking the seat that had once been held by her brother.
15.
Mary MacSwiney, who remained implacably opposed pleaded with Eamon De Valera to be allowed to go.
16.
Mary MacSwiney's speech drew the ire of many of the pro-treaty TDs, Arthur Griffith and Ernest Blythe amongst them.
17.
Mary MacSwiney was arrested at Nell Ryan's home in Ballsbridge on 4 November 1922 after it was raided by Free State soldiers.
18.
Mary MacSwiney was taken to Mountjoy Gaol, where she was interned.
19.
Mary MacSwiney was resigned to her death, and the inmates signed a joint 'Message from Mountjoy'.
20.
Mary MacSwiney's condition was critical and she was given the Last Rites by a catholic priest.
21.
Mary MacSwiney was taken with Kathleen O'Callaghan to Kilmainham Gaol.
22.
Mary MacSwiney began another protest, fearless of death, being "ready for it".
23.
Mary MacSwiney retained her seat at the 1923 general election and along with other Sinn Fein members she refused to enter the Dail.
24.
Mary MacSwiney had not foreseen De Valera walking out of the party, believing he would accept the vote against his motion and was greatly bittered when he left, condemning him.
25.
At the June 1927 general election, MacSwiney lost her seat in the Dail, as did every other remaining Sinn Fein TD, as their place as the primary republican party was completely eclipsed by Fianna Fail.
26.
Mary MacSwiney called for a boycott of the election by the voters, declaring "no true Irish citizen can vote for any of the other parties".
27.
Mary MacSwiney continued her efforts to reinvigorate the party but when Cumann na nGaedheal lost the 1932 election, she felt there was less need for the extreme oppositional position she had previously taken.
28.
In 1933 Mary MacSwiney resigned from Cumann na mBan, and founded Mna na Poblachta instead.
29.
De Valera unambiguously condemned the killings but Mary MacSwiney equivocated, stating "that if any man was shot by the IRA, he was shot for being a spy".
30.
The entire incident pushed Mary MacSwiney into pulling what little support she had been giving to Fianna Fail and into backing violent militant republicanism.
31.
When newly elected IRA Chief-of-Staff Sean Russell reached out to republican former members of the 2nd Dail to help legitimise his position, Mary MacSwiney responded and supported him.
32.
Mary MacSwiney suffered a heart attack in 1939, which would ultimately contribute towards her death on 8 March 1942 aged 69.
33.
Mary MacSwiney relocated to continental Europe, taking her daughter Maire with her.
34.
Maire would grow up primarily in Germany and her communication with the Mary MacSwiney family was severely limited, as Muriel had fallen out with them.
35.
Mary MacSwiney journeyed to Switzerland, where she met up with Maire who had run away from boarding school, and together the two returned to Ireland.
36.
Maire finished her education in Scoil Ite which Mary MacSwiney had founded and continued to manage and work in as a teacher.