28 Facts About Teresa Brayton

Teresa Brayton was born in Kilbrook, a small village near Kilcock, County Kildare, Ireland.

Teresa Brayton's family were long-time nationalists, with her great grandfather previously leading a battalion of pikesmen at the Battle of Prosperous.

Teresa Brayton later became a notable member of Irish national parties, the United Irish League and Cumann na mBan.

Teresa Brayton was described as "a patriot, but never in the vulgar sense a politician" in The Irish Times.

Teresa Brayton was closely associated with leaders of the 1916 Rising, and wrote poems in honour of Irish patriots including Charles Parnell, Roger Casement and Patrick Pearse.

Teresa Brayton was educated from the age of 5 in Newtown National School.

Teresa Brayton wrote her first poem at 12 years old, and soon after won her first literary award.

Later on, Teresa Brayton trained to be a teacher, and then became an assistant teacher to her older sister Elizabeth in the same school she received her education.

Teresa Brayton's father was a tenant farmer, and from a young age she witnessed the effects of the land wars in Ireland.

Teresa Brayton was a supporter of Charles Parnell, the Land League and Home Rule.

Teresa Brayton's work is largely influenced by her family history and Irish nationalism.

In September 1895, Teresa Brayton emigrated to America at the age of 27.

Teresa Brayton first lived in Boston, Chicago, and later moved to New York.

Teresa Brayton met Richard H Brayton, a French-Canadian who worked as an executive in the Municipal Revenue Department, who she then married.

Teresa Brayton looked after their home and focused on her career as a freelance journalist.

Teresa Brayton lived in America for 40 years and became well known in Irish American circles as a prominent figure in the Celtic Fellowship.

Teresa Brayton continued writing under the pseudonym until moving to America, where she became an acclaimed writer and continued to contribute to papers including Boston Pilot, New York Monitor and Rosary Magazine.

Teresa Brayton made return trips to Ireland regularly and developed a relationship with nationalist peers, and the leaders of the 1916 rising.

Teresa Brayton made her permanent return to Ireland after the death of her husband in 1932 and continued her career as a journalist writing for Irish newspapers and published religious poetry in the volume Christmas verses in 1934.

Teresa Brayton dedicated much of her work to the exiled Irish living in America, incorporating themes of nostalgia, the familiarity of home and religion throughout her poetry.

Teresa Brayton returned to Ireland to live permanently in 1932, at the age of 64, following the death of her husband, Richard.

Teresa Brayton then moved to Waterloo Avenue, North Strand, County Dublin.

Teresa Brayton spent a brief period of time in the Edenderry Hospital before her death.

Teresa Brayton had it sent to Mr O'Kennedy's eldest son and on it she wrote the words: "To the boy who sings the Old Bog Road so sweetly".

Two years after her return to Kilbrook, on 19 August 1943, Teresa Brayton died in the same room where her mother had given birth to her over 75 years previously.

Teresa Brayton was buried at the Cloncurry cemetery in County Kildare.

Teresa Brayton's funeral was attended by many, including the then Taoiseach, Eamonn De Valera.

Since her passing Teresa Brayton has continued to keep an audience from overseas from Boston and New York primarily, this Is as a result of the reminder her poems give to Irish exiles of Irish traditions and music which was close to them.