Margaret McCoubrey
Encyclopedia
Margaret McCoubrey was an Irish suffragist
and active participant of the co-operative movement. She was born in Elderslie
, near Glasgow
in Scotland
.
McCoubrey married an Irish trade unionist and moved to Belfast
. There, she joined the British Women's Social and Political Union
(WPSU), travelling to London as a representative of women in the north of Ireland. She joined the Irish Women’s Suffrage Society in 1910, and was an active militant. The theme of self-sacrifice was paramount amongst suffragettes and Margaret McCoubrey claimed that suffragettes were continuing an Irish tradition of violent protest.
At the outbreak of the First World War, she disagreed with the WSPU's orders to cease agitation, and instead founded a branch of the Irish Women's Suffrage Society in Belfast. She joined the peace movement and gave refuge to conscientious objectors. At that time, the majority of women in Ulster
perceived pacifism as unpatriotic and female suffrage as unimportant in comparison with the dangers threatening wartime Europe. As a result, only a few suffragists remained active during the War. McCoubrey single-handedly ran a month-long peace and suffrage campaign in Belfast in August 1917, inspired by her belief that ‘a woman looking down on a battlefield would not see dead Germans or dead Englishmen but so many mother’s sons’.
She became general secretary of the Co-operative Women's Guild and in 1922, she was elected to represent the Irish guildswomen on the newly formed International Women's Co-operative Committee, which came into existence at Basel
.
The guildswomen took an active part in the work of the Co-operative Society Advisory Council, represented on various deputations to the Belfast Corporation
, when subjects such as housing reform, sanitation, the appointment of women constables, the need for the enforcement of the provisions of the Medical Treatment of School Children Act, and the amendment of the Criminal Law Act were discussed.
She was an active member of the Independent Labour Party
, and, in 1920, was elected as a Labour councillor for the Dock ward of Belfast.
Suffragette
"Suffragette" is a term coined by the Daily Mail newspaper as a derogatory label for members of the late 19th and early 20th century movement for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom, in particular members of the Women's Social and Political Union...
and active participant of the co-operative movement. She was born in Elderslie
Elderslie
Elderslie is a village in the council area and historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. The village is situated midway between the nearby towns of Paisley and Johnstone....
, near Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
McCoubrey married an Irish trade unionist and moved to Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. There, she joined the British Women's Social and Political Union
Women's Social and Political Union
The Women's Social and Political Union was the leading militant organisation campaigning for Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom...
(WPSU), travelling to London as a representative of women in the north of Ireland. She joined the Irish Women’s Suffrage Society in 1910, and was an active militant. The theme of self-sacrifice was paramount amongst suffragettes and Margaret McCoubrey claimed that suffragettes were continuing an Irish tradition of violent protest.
At the outbreak of the First World War, she disagreed with the WSPU's orders to cease agitation, and instead founded a branch of the Irish Women's Suffrage Society in Belfast. She joined the peace movement and gave refuge to conscientious objectors. At that time, the majority of women in Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
perceived pacifism as unpatriotic and female suffrage as unimportant in comparison with the dangers threatening wartime Europe. As a result, only a few suffragists remained active during the War. McCoubrey single-handedly ran a month-long peace and suffrage campaign in Belfast in August 1917, inspired by her belief that ‘a woman looking down on a battlefield would not see dead Germans or dead Englishmen but so many mother’s sons’.
She became general secretary of the Co-operative Women's Guild and in 1922, she was elected to represent the Irish guildswomen on the newly formed International Women's Co-operative Committee, which came into existence at Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
.
The guildswomen took an active part in the work of the Co-operative Society Advisory Council, represented on various deputations to the Belfast Corporation
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
, when subjects such as housing reform, sanitation, the appointment of women constables, the need for the enforcement of the provisions of the Medical Treatment of School Children Act, and the amendment of the Criminal Law Act were discussed.
She was an active member of the Independent Labour Party
Independent Labour Party
The Independent Labour Party was a socialist political party in Britain established in 1893. The ILP was affiliated to the Labour Party from 1906 to 1932, when it voted to leave...
, and, in 1920, was elected as a Labour councillor for the Dock ward of Belfast.