Eva O'Flaherty (31 March 1874 – 17 April 1963) was an Irish nationalist, Parisienne model, patron of the arts and London milliner who founded a successful knitting industry on Achill Island.[1]
O'Flaherty was born to Martin O'Flaherty and Mary Frances Barbara O'Gorman Lalor O'Gorman, strongly nationalist Catholics, in Caherlistrane's Lisdonagh House, County Galway.[2]
Her father was involved in the John Mitchel Treason Felony trial in 1848, for the defence. Her mother was the daughter of Daniel O'Connell's colleague, Richard O'Gorman. Her uncle Richard was a Young Irelander and her granduncle was Purcell O'Gorman, O'Connell's 'second' for the 1815 duel with John D'Esterre, in which the latter was killed.[3][4]
In 1910 O'Flaherty moved to Achill where she opened St Colman’s Knitting Industries. These were based in Dooagh and provided local employment for women of the area for fifty years. She also was part of the founding of Scoil Acla, with Darrell Figgis, Colm O’Loughlainn, and Anita McMahon. Unlike other founders of Scoil Acla, O'Flaherty stayed living on the island the rest of her life. Figgis was leader of the Irish Volunteers in Achill in April 1916. She was connected to other well-known members of Ireland's nationalist movement. By 1914, O'Flaherty was a member of Cumann na mBan with Louise Gavan Duffy.[6] During the Easter Rising she was part of the group known as "basket women" carrying messages through the city by bicycle. She remained friends with many of her nationalist acquaintances for the rest of her life.[3][4]
After the rising O'Flaherty returned to Achill. Her life in Paris and London, where for a time she had had a millinery shop, meant she had made a significant number of connections in artistic circles. As a result, people like the artists Paul Henry and Marie Howet and the writers Heinrich Böll and Graham Greene would visit her often.[3][4][5]
O'Flaherty died on 17 April 1963 aged 89.[where?] President Éamon de Valera sent Senator Mark Killilea to give the oration. She was buried in Donaghpatrick graveyard, her coffin draped with a tricolour and given military honours. Her biography was written in 2012 by Mary J. Murphy.[3][4] A portrait of O'Flaherty created in 1947 Derek Hill is part of the Hugh Lane collection.[7]
ReferencesEdit
^"Farming & country life 1916: history talks presented at Teagasc Athenry 10th and 11th June 2016". Teagasc. 2016.
^"Estate Record: O'Flaherty (Lisdonagh)". landedestates.nuigalway.ie. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
^"Cumann na mBan Provisional Committee" (PDF). RTE. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
^"BOOKS New book charts life of Eva Flaherty, Achill's forgotten heroine". The Mayo News. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
October 20, 2023
flaherty, march, 1874, april, 1963, irish, nationalist, parisienne, model, patron, arts, london, milliner, founded, successful, knitting, industry, achill, island, borneva, flaherty31, march, 1874county, galway, irelanddied17, april, 1963, aged, nationalityiri. Eva O Flaherty 31 March 1874 17 April 1963 was an Irish nationalist Parisienne model patron of the arts and London milliner who founded a successful knitting industry on Achill Island 1 Eva O FlahertyBornEva O Flaherty31 March 1874County Galway IrelandDied17 April 1963 aged 89 NationalityIrishKnown forActivist arts patron millinerEarly life EditO Flaherty was born to Martin O Flaherty and Mary Frances Barbara O Gorman Lalor O Gorman strongly nationalist Catholics in Caherlistrane s Lisdonagh House County Galway 2 Her father was involved in the John Mitchel Treason Felony trial in 1848 for the defence Her mother was the daughter of Daniel O Connell s colleague Richard O Gorman Her uncle Richard was a Young Irelander and her granduncle was Purcell O Gorman O Connell s second for the 1815 duel with John D Esterre in which the latter was killed 3 4 In her youth O Flaherty lived in Limerick but her secondary schooling was in Mount Anville Secondary School and Alexandra College When she had finished school O Flaherty went to Paris to study millinery It was there she met and made friends with Constance Markievicz She then opened a millinery shop in London 3 4 5 Nationalism and Achill EditIn 1910 O Flaherty moved to Achill where she opened St Colman s Knitting Industries These were based in Dooagh and provided local employment for women of the area for fifty years She also was part of the founding of Scoil Acla with Darrell Figgis Colm O Loughlainn and Anita McMahon Unlike other founders of Scoil Acla O Flaherty stayed living on the island the rest of her life Figgis was leader of the Irish Volunteers in Achill in April 1916 She was connected to other well known members of Ireland s nationalist movement By 1914 O Flaherty was a member of Cumann na mBan with Louise Gavan Duffy 6 During the Easter Rising she was part of the group known as basket women carrying messages through the city by bicycle She remained friends with many of her nationalist acquaintances for the rest of her life 3 4 After the rising O Flaherty returned to Achill Her life in Paris and London where for a time she had had a millinery shop meant she had made a significant number of connections in artistic circles As a result people like the artists Paul Henry and Marie Howet and the writers Heinrich Boll and Graham Greene would visit her often 3 4 5 O Flaherty died on 17 April 1963 aged 89 where President Eamon de Valera sent Senator Mark Killilea to give the oration She was buried in Donaghpatrick graveyard her coffin draped with a tricolour and given military honours Her biography was written in 2012 by Mary J Murphy 3 4 A portrait of O Flaherty created in 1947 Derek Hill is part of the Hugh Lane collection 7 References Edit Farming amp country life 1916 history talks presented at Teagasc Athenry 10th and 11th June 2016 Teagasc 2016 Estate Record O Flaherty Lisdonagh landedestates nuigalway ie Retrieved 5 December 2022 a b c d e Eva O Flaherty Achill s Forgotten Heroine womensmuseumofireland ie Retrieved 5 December 2022 a b c d e Under the stones of Achill The Irish Times Retrieved 5 December 2022 a b Eva O Flaherty Scoil Acla scoilacla ie Retrieved 5 December 2022 Cumann na mBan Provisional Committee PDF RTE Retrieved 5 December 2022 BOOKS New book charts life of Eva Flaherty Achill s forgotten heroine The Mayo News 5 June 2012 Retrieved 17 July 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eva O 27Flaherty amp oldid 1167370775, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
