March 27, 1872

Mary MacSwiney was born on this day in 1872. She was a founding member of the Munster Women’s Franchise League, in Cork, and there became involved with various republican groups. She was arrested and imprisoned following the Easter Rising. The following year, she and her sister, Annie, founded St. Ita’s School for girls in Cork City, where all subjects would be taught in Irish. MacSwiney was elected to Sinn Féin, and was appointed to the Cabinet of the Second Dáil in 1922. Twice imprisoned during the Civil War, she participated in a twenty-one day hunger-strike in Mountjoy Gaol, and a twenty-four day hunger-strike in Kilmainham Gaol.