Irish Republican Women in America

Five Irish republican women conducted lecture tours in the United States from 1916 to 1925: Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington, Mary MacSwiney, Mrs. Muriel MacSwiney, Countess Constance Markievicz, and Mrs. Margaret Pearse. This book examines the role of women, and of Irish-Americans, in the 1916 Easter Rising, Irish War of Independence, and Irish Civil War, and Irish-American organizations and leadership. The mass meetings held by each of these women drew tremendous crowds all across the country. They each set aside their own activities to work for Irish nationalism. The resistance they encountered in the United States was met with courage and tenacity. On the whole they each were praised for their eloquence and demeanour. These women were successful in their contributions to their cause even after the split in the Irish-American community as a result of the confusion caused by the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty. Each tour reflected the political situation on both sides of the Atlantic, as indicated by the nervousness of the United States and British governments. The political astuteness and success of Irish republican women during this period far out-distanced them from the political achievements of women in other parts of the world.