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Nell Ryan

Nell Ryan (1881–1959) was an Irish nationalist, Cumann na mBan organiser and County Councillor. She was a member of the republican Ryan family of Tomcoole. Despite not being involved in the 1916 Rising, she was arrested and imprisoned. On release she joined Sinn Féin and was a regional organiser for Cumann na mBan in Wexford.[1] She was arrested for anti-Treaty activity during the Civil War and went on hunger strike with other female prisoners.[2] She was the first woman elected to Wexford County Council.[3]

Nell Ryan
Born
Ellen Ryan

5 July 1881
Tomcoole, Ireland
Died8 December 1959
Wexford, Ireland
NationalityIrish

Early life and family

Ellen "Nell" Ryan was born on 5 July 1881 in Tomcoole, Co. Wexford to John and Eliza (née Sutton) Ryan.[4] She was one of twelve siblings, all of whom received secondary school education and nine went on to university. Nell was educated as a boarder at Loreto College, Dublin.[4] She became a teacher and taught in San Sebastián, Spain and Fulda, Germany for some years before returning to Ireland.[5]

Ryan and her family "played an important role in revolutionary politics and helped shape the new Free State."[6] Her sister Mary Josephine (Min) was a founding member and secretary of Cumann na mBan and her sisters Phyllis, Mary Kate (Kit) and Agnes were also members. Their brother James (Jim) joined the Irish Volunteers.[1]  He later became a politician, serving as a Minister in successive Fianna Fáil governments, and was later elected to Seanad Éireann. He married Mairín Creegan, a member of Cumann na mBan. Min married Richard Mulcahy, commander in chief of the Irish Republican Army and later a Minister in the Fine Gael government. Agnes married Denis McCullough, president of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Kit married Sean T O'Ceallaigh, future President of Ireland, who went on to marry Phyllis after Kit's death at 55.[6] Ryan was a "friend and confidant of practically every leader in the Republican movement."[7]

1916 Rising

Ryan joined Cumann na mBan in 1914 and was a regional organiser in Wexford. She was in Wexford when the Easter Rising began.[4] Her siblings Min, Phyllis and Jim were stationed at the GPO in Dublin. Despite not being involved herself, Nell was arrested in Enniscorthy along with other Cumann na mBan members after the Rising. She was held initially in Waterford Barracks with Kathleen Browne and subsequently moved to Richmond Barracks in Dublin.[8][4]

Ryan was one of the few women who were subsequently deported to Lewes Prison, England, along with Winifred Carney, Helena Molony, Marie Perotz-Flanagan, Bríd Foley and Countess Markievicz.[4] She was one of the longest serving prisoners and was eventually released on 13 October 1916.[5] A later profile of her suggests that "her character with Dublin Castle even then, must not have been good".[9] On her return to Ireland, Ryan resumed her activities with Cumann na mBan, where she reorganised and expanded branches in Wexford.[4] She also joined Sinn Féin.[1]

 
Panel from the 77 Women commemoration quilt depicting Nell Ryan. Taken in Richmond Barracks, 2019.

Ryan is commemorated in the 77 Women commemoration quilt created by The Yarn Project in honour of the women arrested and held in Richmond Barracks after the Rising.[10]

War of Independence

Ryan was living in Tomcoole during the War of Independence and the family home became a headquarters for the Irish Volunteers.[4]

Civil War

During the Civil War that followed the partition of Ireland, WT Cosgrave, then President of the Executive of the Free State Government, recognised the role of the Cumann na mBan women in propaganda and communication and arrested hundreds of them, saying that it was “not possible to consider these women as ordinary females”.[11]

Ryan was a dispatch rider during the war and was among those arrested for anti-Treaty activities. She was transferred from Wexford to Kilmainham Gaol.[4] Although her sister Min was married to General Richard Mulcahy, Chief of Staff of the National Army, she did not receive preferential treatment.[4] With other members of Cumann na mBan, she began a hunger strike in March 1923. The Free State authorities did not want any women to die on hunger strike, so she was released on 24 April, the 34th day of her strike.[2]

"Nell Ryan and Miss [Annie] O'Neill were released, a few days later Madame [Maud Gonne] MacBride was gone. That same night Kitty Costello was told by the doctor that she was unconditionally released."[12]

The Civil War had a huge impact on the Ryan family as Min backed her husband's support of the Treaty, as did her sister Agnes, but Nell and the other siblings were anti-Treaty. Unlike some families divided by the Civil War, the Ryans later managed to heal the division.[13] Her friendship with Kathleen Browne, who had been arrested with Ryan after the Rising and who later supported the Treaty, did not survive the Civil War.[14]

Later life

Ryan became a member of Fianna Fáil when it was established in 1926 and served on its national executive, representing south Wexford.[4] She was active in local politics and joined the Wexford Harbour Board, Wexford Vocational Educational Committee and the Wexford Board of Health.[4] As Chair of the Board of Health, she had responsibility for managing social services and hospitals.[4] She was the first women elected to Wexford County Council and served as Councillor from 1928 to 1954.[3]

She also served on the council of Uí Cinsealaigh Historical Society.[8]

She died aged 78 in a nursing home in Wexford on 8 December 1959.[7] At her funeral, members of Cumann na mBan formed a guard of honour and her coffin was draped in the tricolour of the Irish Republic. She is buried in Glynn Cemetery.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c Gillis, Liz (2016). Women of the Irish Revolution. Mercier Press. p.51.
  2. ^ a b McAuliffe, Mary (2020). Margaret Skinnider. UCD Press. p70
  3. ^ a b National Women’s Council of Ireland (2019). Celebrating the role of women over 120 years of Local Government. NWCI.ie.[1]
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m McAuliffe, Mary and Gillis, Liz (2016). Richmond Barracks 1916. We Were There: 77 Women of the Easter Rising. Dublin City Council. pp242-243.
  5. ^ a b Sean T O’Ceallaigh and the Ryans of Tomcoole. Political and private papers. Collection List no. 178. National Library of Ireland. p3. [2]
  6. ^ a b Hayes, Jim (2016). Wexford Family at the Heart of 1916 Rising, Gorey Guardian  22 March 2016. [3]
  7. ^ a b Sean T O’Ceallaigh and the Ryans of Tomcoole. Political and private papers. Collection List no. 178. National Library of Ireland. p4. [4]
  8. ^ a b Browne, Bernard (2016). Kathleen A. Browne. The Past: The Organ of the Uí Cinsealaigh Historical Society. No. 32 (2016), pp. 108-115. [5]
  9. ^ Irish Press. Monday 22 March 1937. p5.
  10. ^ Richmond Barracks. Women of 1916 Commemoration Quilt. RichmondBarracks.ie [6]
  11. ^ Fallon, Charlotte (1987). Civil War Hunger Strikes: women and men. In Eire, Vol. 22 (1987), p83.
  12. ^ Annie O’Farrelly Papers, National Library of Ireland (NLI), MS47, 640/21, 8 May 1923.
  13. ^ Gillis, Liz (2016). Women of the Irish Revolution. Mercier Press. p.156.
  14. ^ "Kathleen Browne – Wexford's forgotten trailblazer who sizzled at Eamon de Valera". independent. Retrieved 7 August 2022.

nell, ryan, 1881, 1959, irish, nationalist, cumann, mban, organiser, county, councillor, member, republican, ryan, family, tomcoole, despite, being, involved, 1916, rising, arrested, imprisoned, release, joined, sinn, féin, regional, organiser, cumann, mban, w. Nell Ryan 1881 1959 was an Irish nationalist Cumann na mBan organiser and County Councillor She was a member of the republican Ryan family of Tomcoole Despite not being involved in the 1916 Rising she was arrested and imprisoned On release she joined Sinn Fein and was a regional organiser for Cumann na mBan in Wexford 1 She was arrested for anti Treaty activity during the Civil War and went on hunger strike with other female prisoners 2 She was the first woman elected to Wexford County Council 3 Nell RyanBornEllen Ryan5 July 1881Tomcoole IrelandDied8 December 1959Wexford IrelandNationalityIrish Contents 1 Early life and family 2 1916 Rising 3 War of Independence 4 Civil War 5 Later life 6 ReferencesEarly life and family EditEllen Nell Ryan was born on 5 July 1881 in Tomcoole Co Wexford to John and Eliza nee Sutton Ryan 4 She was one of twelve siblings all of whom received secondary school education and nine went on to university Nell was educated as a boarder at Loreto College Dublin 4 She became a teacher and taught in San Sebastian Spain and Fulda Germany for some years before returning to Ireland 5 Ryan and her family played an important role in revolutionary politics and helped shape the new Free State 6 Her sister Mary Josephine Min was a founding member and secretary of Cumann na mBan and her sisters Phyllis Mary Kate Kit and Agnes were also members Their brother James Jim joined the Irish Volunteers 1 He later became a politician serving as a Minister in successive Fianna Fail governments and was later elected to Seanad Eireann He married Mairin Creegan a member of Cumann na mBan Min married Richard Mulcahy commander in chief of the Irish Republican Army and later a Minister in the Fine Gael government Agnes married Denis McCullough president of the Irish Republican Brotherhood Kit married Sean T O Ceallaigh future President of Ireland who went on to marry Phyllis after Kit s death at 55 6 Ryan was a friend and confidant of practically every leader in the Republican movement 7 1916 Rising EditRyan joined Cumann na mBan in 1914 and was a regional organiser in Wexford She was in Wexford when the Easter Rising began 4 Her siblings Min Phyllis and Jim were stationed at the GPO in Dublin Despite not being involved herself Nell was arrested in Enniscorthy along with other Cumann na mBan members after the Rising She was held initially in Waterford Barracks with Kathleen Browne and subsequently moved to Richmond Barracks in Dublin 8 4 Ryan was one of the few women who were subsequently deported to Lewes Prison England along with Winifred Carney Helena Molony Marie Perotz Flanagan Brid Foley and Countess Markievicz 4 She was one of the longest serving prisoners and was eventually released on 13 October 1916 5 A later profile of her suggests that her character with Dublin Castle even then must not have been good 9 On her return to Ireland Ryan resumed her activities with Cumann na mBan where she reorganised and expanded branches in Wexford 4 She also joined Sinn Fein 1 Panel from the 77 Women commemoration quilt depicting Nell Ryan Taken in Richmond Barracks 2019 Ryan is commemorated in the 77 Women commemoration quilt created by The Yarn Project in honour of the women arrested and held in Richmond Barracks after the Rising 10 War of Independence EditRyan was living in Tomcoole during the War of Independence and the family home became a headquarters for the Irish Volunteers 4 Civil War EditDuring the Civil War that followed the partition of Ireland WT Cosgrave then President of the Executive of the Free State Government recognised the role of the Cumann na mBan women in propaganda and communication and arrested hundreds of them saying that it was not possible to consider these women as ordinary females 11 Ryan was a dispatch rider during the war and was among those arrested for anti Treaty activities She was transferred from Wexford to Kilmainham Gaol 4 Although her sister Min was married to General Richard Mulcahy Chief of Staff of the National Army she did not receive preferential treatment 4 With other members of Cumann na mBan she began a hunger strike in March 1923 The Free State authorities did not want any women to die on hunger strike so she was released on 24 April the 34th day of her strike 2 Nell Ryan and Miss Annie O Neill were released a few days later Madame Maud Gonne MacBride was gone That same night Kitty Costello was told by the doctor that she was unconditionally released 12 The Civil War had a huge impact on the Ryan family as Min backed her husband s support of the Treaty as did her sister Agnes but Nell and the other siblings were anti Treaty Unlike some families divided by the Civil War the Ryans later managed to heal the division 13 Her friendship with Kathleen Browne who had been arrested with Ryan after the Rising and who later supported the Treaty did not survive the Civil War 14 Later life EditRyan became a member of Fianna Fail when it was established in 1926 and served on its national executive representing south Wexford 4 She was active in local politics and joined the Wexford Harbour Board Wexford Vocational Educational Committee and the Wexford Board of Health 4 As Chair of the Board of Health she had responsibility for managing social services and hospitals 4 She was the first women elected to Wexford County Council and served as Councillor from 1928 to 1954 3 She also served on the council of Ui Cinsealaigh Historical Society 8 She died aged 78 in a nursing home in Wexford on 8 December 1959 7 At her funeral members of Cumann na mBan formed a guard of honour and her coffin was draped in the tricolour of the Irish Republic She is buried in Glynn Cemetery 4 References Edit a b c Gillis Liz 2016 Women of the Irish Revolution Mercier Press p 51 a b McAuliffe Mary 2020 Margaret Skinnider UCD Press p70 a b National Women s Council of Ireland 2019 Celebrating the role of women over 120 years of Local Government NWCI ie 1 a b c d e f g h i j k l m McAuliffe Mary and Gillis Liz 2016 Richmond Barracks 1916 We Were There 77 Women of the Easter Rising Dublin City Council pp242 243 a b Sean T O Ceallaigh and the Ryans of Tomcoole Political and private papers Collection List no 178 National Library of Ireland p3 2 a b Hayes Jim 2016 Wexford Family at the Heart of 1916 Rising Gorey Guardian 22 March 2016 3 a b Sean T O Ceallaigh and the Ryans of Tomcoole Political and private papers Collection List no 178 National Library of Ireland p4 4 a b Browne Bernard 2016 Kathleen A Browne The Past The Organ of the Ui Cinsealaigh Historical Society No 32 2016 pp 108 115 5 Irish Press Monday 22 March 1937 p5 Richmond Barracks Women of 1916 Commemoration Quilt RichmondBarracks ie 6 Fallon Charlotte 1987 Civil War Hunger Strikes women and men In Eire Vol 22 1987 p83 Annie O Farrelly Papers National Library of Ireland NLI MS47 640 21 8 May 1923 Gillis Liz 2016 Women of the Irish Revolution Mercier Press p 156 Kathleen Browne Wexford s forgotten trailblazer who sizzled at Eamon de Valera independent Retrieved 7 August 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nell Ryan amp oldid 1141874437, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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