
The Rabbit's Riot Theatre Company
Get Mad. Get Brave. Get Inspired.
A Woman of Many Firsts
by Grainne Colreavy Gilgunn

Beautiful first born daughter
Born in 1868
Born at Buckingham Gate
Inspired by kindness – her father and teacher
Concern shown to the famine poor at Lissadell
Food for tenants who in working poverty did dwell
Dublin, London, Paris – free to learn
Fortunate by birth
To paint and be painted – To see and be seen
Art and Politics – her lifework begins
Interests, influences and Influencers
Foster suffrage, activism and socialism
Satin ball gown and diamond tiara
Features of her double life
Her uniform to prepare for revolution
Breeches, slouch hat and feathers
Just as her comrades wore
The Patriots uniform for active revolution
1918 jailed and elected
First woman elected to House of Commons
But bravely abstained as mandated
1919, jailed and missed
Unable to take her seat in the first Dáil
“Imprisoned by the foreign enemy” was her call
First female cabinet minister in the Republic
Only female to have this honour until 1979
Ahead of her time
Civil War – Republican views
Jail, hunger strike and release
In these times she knew no peace
1927 – died at 59
Her wordly belongings already bequeath
“among the poor where she wanted to be”