Ellen Grimley was born Ellen Jane Whelan, most likely in Belfast. She was the only daughter of John Whelan, a tradesman. Grimley, by her own account, grew up in a comfortable home but was aware of the severe poverty and deprivation around her. At age 11, she began her career as a mill worker part time while continuing to attend school three days a week. Later she became a doffing mistress, overseeing the spinning frames at Owen O’Cork's mill, Belfast.[1]
Union careeredit
She was involved in the trade union movement from 1912, becoming a member of the Belfast branch of the Irish Women Workers' Union (IWWU). It was through the union that she met James Connolly, who was impressed by her manner, and offered her a full time position as a union organiser at the offices of the Irish Textile Workers' Union (ITWU) in York Street. Her elder brother encouraged her to take the position, which she accepted. Initially she received no wage, but soon developed a reputation for addressing large public meetings as an animated speaker, who proved very popular with factory girls.[1]
Connolly and other union members encouraged her to read more broadly, leading to Grimley becoming more active in politics. In 1913 she attended the Irish Trade Union Congress in Cork as an IWWU delegate. There she addressed a labour party meeting in Cobh, and the ITGWU platform in Blackpool, Cork. En route back to Belfast, she addressed a very well attended meeting at Liberty Hall in Dublin. She spoke on the same platform as Keir Hardie at the Belfast Co-operative Hall, most likely in 1913. She campaigned for the Dublin workers suffering during the lockout in the same year, fundraising for them in Belfast. Along with her close friends, Winifred Carney, Cathal O'Shannon and James Grimley, they became known as the "Don't Give a Damn League", referencing Grimley's often repeated quote that she did not "care a damn" if a policeman was present.[1] She signed a 1913 manifesto, To the Linen Slaves of Belfast, with Carney and Connolly, which described the Belfast mills as "slaughterhouses for the women and penitentiaries for the children."[2] From 1915, she worked as a sick visitor in the national health insurance scheme.[1]
Family and later lifeedit
She married Joseph Gordon, a Belfast carter, in October 1906. She was later widowed, and married James Grimley in September 1915. Her husband was a postman who was active in the Socialist Party of Ireland, and then the Belfast labour party from 1918. After the birth of their first child in the summer of 1916, Grimley had less time for the union movement, and while she was a member of Cumann na mBan, she did not take an active role in the War of Independence. She ran a secondhand furniture shop near Newtonards Road, but the family were forced to move to Dublin in 1935 following the outbreak of sectarian violence in Belfast. She and husband were friends with Ina Connolly, James Connolly's daughter. Grimley wrote an account of her work with James Connolly in 1953. The book, Ellen Grimley (Nellie Gordon) - Reminiscences of her Work with James Connolly in Belfast', was edited for publication by Helga Woggon in 2000. Grimely died on 27 October 1960 at her home on Glengarriff Parade, Dublin.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefClarke, Frances (2009). "Grimley (Whelan), Ellen Jane ('Nellie')". In McGuire, James; Quinn, James (eds.). Dictionary of Irish Biography. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
^"Ellen Gordon". Culture Northern Ireland. 27 January 2006. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
March 06, 2024
ellen, grimley, ellen, nellie, grimley, also, known, nellie, gordon, 1887, october, 1960, irish, trade, unionist, bornellen, jane, whelanc, 1887belfastdied27, october, 1960, 1960, aged, glengarriff, parade, dublinoccupationtrade, union, organiser, contents, ea. Ellen Nellie Grimley also known as Nellie Gordon c 1887 27 October 1960 was an Irish trade unionist 1 Ellen GrimleyBornEllen Jane Whelanc 1887BelfastDied27 October 1960 1960 10 27 aged 72 73 Glengarriff Parade DublinOccupationtrade union organiser Contents 1 Early life 2 Union career 3 Family and later life 4 ReferencesEarly life editEllen Grimley was born Ellen Jane Whelan most likely in Belfast She was the only daughter of John Whelan a tradesman Grimley by her own account grew up in a comfortable home but was aware of the severe poverty and deprivation around her At age 11 she began her career as a mill worker part time while continuing to attend school three days a week Later she became a doffing mistress overseeing the spinning frames at Owen O Cork s mill Belfast 1 Union career editShe was involved in the trade union movement from 1912 becoming a member of the Belfast branch of the Irish Women Workers Union IWWU It was through the union that she met James Connolly who was impressed by her manner and offered her a full time position as a union organiser at the offices of the Irish Textile Workers Union ITWU in York Street Her elder brother encouraged her to take the position which she accepted Initially she received no wage but soon developed a reputation for addressing large public meetings as an animated speaker who proved very popular with factory girls 1 Connolly and other union members encouraged her to read more broadly leading to Grimley becoming more active in politics In 1913 she attended the Irish Trade Union Congress in Cork as an IWWU delegate There she addressed a labour party meeting in Cobh and the ITGWU platform in Blackpool Cork En route back to Belfast she addressed a very well attended meeting at Liberty Hall in Dublin She spoke on the same platform as Keir Hardie at the Belfast Co operative Hall most likely in 1913 She campaigned for the Dublin workers suffering during the lockout in the same year fundraising for them in Belfast Along with her close friends Winifred Carney Cathal O Shannon and James Grimley they became known as the Don t Give a Damn League referencing Grimley s often repeated quote that she did not care a damn if a policeman was present 1 She signed a 1913 manifesto To the Linen Slaves of Belfast with Carney and Connolly which described the Belfast mills as slaughterhouses for the women and penitentiaries for the children 2 From 1915 she worked as a sick visitor in the national health insurance scheme 1 Family and later life editShe married Joseph Gordon a Belfast carter in October 1906 She was later widowed and married James Grimley in September 1915 Her husband was a postman who was active in the Socialist Party of Ireland and then the Belfast labour party from 1918 After the birth of their first child in the summer of 1916 Grimley had less time for the union movement and while she was a member of Cumann na mBan she did not take an active role in the War of Independence She ran a secondhand furniture shop near Newtonards Road but the family were forced to move to Dublin in 1935 following the outbreak of sectarian violence in Belfast She and husband were friends with Ina Connolly James Connolly s daughter Grimley wrote an account of her work with James Connolly in 1953 The book Ellen Grimley Nellie Gordon Reminiscences of her Work with James Connolly in Belfast was edited for publication by Helga Woggon in 2000 Grimely died on 27 October 1960 at her home on Glengarriff Parade Dublin 1 References edit a b c d e f Clarke Frances 2009 Grimley Whelan Ellen Jane Nellie In McGuire James Quinn James eds Dictionary of Irish Biography Cambridge Cambridge University Press Ellen Gordon Culture Northern Ireland 27 January 2006 Retrieved 24 January 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ellen Grimley amp oldid 1082794009, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
