Helena Moloney
Encyclopedia
Helena Moloney was a prominent Irish republican
, feminist
and labor activist. She fought in the 1916 Easter Rising and later became the second woman president of the Irish Trade Union Congress
.
In 1903, inspired by a pro-nationalist speech given by Maud Gonne
, Helena Moloney joined Inghinidhe na hÉireann
(Daughters of Ireland) and began a lifelong commitment to the republican cause. In 1908 she became the editor of the organisation's monthly newspaper, Bean na hÉireann (Woman of Ireland).
Moloney also had a career as an actress, and was a member of the Abbey Theater. However her primary commitment was to her political work.
As a labor activist, Moloney was a close colleague of James Connolly
and Countess Markievicz. In November 1915 Connolly appointed her secretary of the Irish Women Workers' Union.
("Women's League"), an Irish republican women's paramilitary organisation formed in April 1914 as an auxiliary of the Irish Volunteers
(IV). Members of Cumann na mBan trained alongside the men of the Irish Volunteers in preparation for the armed rebellion against the English forces in Ireland.
During the 1916 Easter Rising
, Moloney was one of the Citizen's Army soldiers who attacked Dublin Castle
. During the attack her commanding officer, Sean Connolly was killed, and Moloney was captured and imprisoned until December 1916.
After the Irish Civil War
, Moloney became the first woman president of the Irish Trade Union Congress. She remained active in the republican cause during the 1930s, particularly with the Women's Prisoner's Defense League and the People's Rights Association.
She retired from public life in 1946.
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
, feminist
Feminist movement
The feminist movement refers to a series of campaigns for reforms on issues such as reproductive rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, women's suffrage, sexual harassment and sexual violence...
and labor activist. She fought in the 1916 Easter Rising and later became the second woman president of the Irish Trade Union Congress
Irish Trade Union Congress
The Irish Trade Union Congress was a union federation covering the island of Ireland.Until 1894, representatives of Irish trade unions attended the British Trades Union Congress. However, many felt that they had little impact on the British body, and decided to form their own federation. This...
.
In 1903, inspired by a pro-nationalist speech given by Maud Gonne
Maud Gonne
Maud Gonne MacBride was an English-born Irish revolutionary, feminist and actress, best remembered for her turbulent relationship with William Butler Yeats. Of Anglo-Irish stock and birth, she was won over to Irish nationalism by the plight of evicted people in the Land Wars...
, Helena Moloney joined Inghinidhe na hÉireann
Inghinidhe na hÉireann
Inghinidhe na hÉireann , abbreviated InaÉ, was a revolutionary women’s society founded by Maud Gonne on Easter Sunday 1900.Gonne was elected President of the association; Vice-Presidents were Alice Furlong, Jenny Wyse Power, Annie Egan and Anna Johnston...
(Daughters of Ireland) and began a lifelong commitment to the republican cause. In 1908 she became the editor of the organisation's monthly newspaper, Bean na hÉireann (Woman of Ireland).
Moloney also had a career as an actress, and was a member of the Abbey Theater. However her primary commitment was to her political work.
As a labor activist, Moloney was a close colleague of James Connolly
James Connolly
James Connolly was an Irish republican and socialist leader. He was born in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, Scotland, to Irish immigrant parents and spoke with a Scottish accent throughout his life. He left school for working life at the age of 11, but became one of the leading Marxist theorists of...
and Countess Markievicz. In November 1915 Connolly appointed her secretary of the Irish Women Workers' Union.
Role in the 1916 Easter Rising
Moloney was a prominent member of Cumann na mBanCumann na mBan
Cumann na mBan is an Irish republican women's paramilitary organisation formed in Dublin on 2 April 1914 as an auxiliary of the Irish Volunteers...
("Women's League"), an Irish republican women's paramilitary organisation formed in April 1914 as an auxiliary of the Irish Volunteers
Irish Volunteers
The Irish Volunteers was a military organisation established in 1913 by Irish nationalists. It was ostensibly formed in response to the formation of the Ulster Volunteers in 1912, and its declared primary aim was "to secure and maintain the rights and liberties common to the whole people of Ireland"...
(IV). Members of Cumann na mBan trained alongside the men of the Irish Volunteers in preparation for the armed rebellion against the English forces in Ireland.
During the 1916 Easter Rising
Easter Rising
The Easter Rising was an insurrection staged in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans with the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic at a time when the British Empire was heavily engaged in the First World War...
, Moloney was one of the Citizen's Army soldiers who attacked Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
. During the attack her commanding officer, Sean Connolly was killed, and Moloney was captured and imprisoned until December 1916.
After the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
, Moloney became the first woman president of the Irish Trade Union Congress. She remained active in the republican cause during the 1930s, particularly with the Women's Prisoner's Defense League and the People's Rights Association.
She retired from public life in 1946.