Úna Brennan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Úna Brennan
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Anastasia Bolger
1888 County Wexford, Ireland
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| Died | 1958 Ireland
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| Nationality | Irish |
Úna Brennan (born 1888, died 1958) was an important Irish woman. She believed Ireland should be a free country, separate from British rule. This is what "republican" means. She also worked for equal rights for women, which is what "feminist" means. Úna was very active during big events in Irish history, like the Easter Rising in 1916, the Irish War of Independence, and the Irish Civil War.
Early Life and Activism
Úna Brennan was born Anastasia Bolger in 1888. She grew up in Coolnaboy, County Wexford, as the oldest of six children. She went to school at the Loreto Convent in Enniscorthy, where she lived away from home as a boarder.
In 1908, Úna started writing a monthly column for The Echo newspaper. She wrote about important topics like women's rights, both at home and in public life. She joined a group called Inghinidhe na hÉireann and became its local secretary. Later, she was also a member of Cumann na mBan, a women's organization that supported Irish independence. Úna was even one of the first women to join the Irish Republican Brotherhood, a secret group working for an independent Ireland. Because she supported the Irish language, she first changed her name to Anatás, and then to Úna.
On July 6, 1909, Úna married Robert Brennan. He was also involved in groups like the Gaelic League and Sinn Féin, which promoted Irish culture and independence. Robert taught Irish in different towns. He was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and made sure Úna was sworn in too.
Role in the Irish Wars
Úna Brennan played a brave part in the fight for Irish independence. During the Easter Rising in 1916, she was with her husband in Enniscorthy, County Wexford. Even though she had a six-year-old daughter at home, she helped raise the Tricolour on a building on April 27, 1916. She did this with two other women, Marion Stokes and Gretta Comerford.
After raising the flag, Úna quickly set up an emergency hospital and a kitchen. She ran these important services for everyone involved during the time of the Rising. She was later arrested and taken to prison in Waterford and then to Mountjoy Prison. However, she was released after only a few days.
After the Rising, Úna and her family moved to Dublin. Úna continued to be very active during the Irish War of Independence. She used her home as a safe place for important documents and for men who were hiding from the authorities. Famous figures like Harry Boland stayed there. During the Irish Civil War, Úna and her family supported the Anti-Treaty side. They kept sheltering people and hiding important papers and messages.
Family and Later Life
Úna and Robert Brennan had three daughters named Emer, Maeve, and Derry (Deirdre), and a son named Robert Patrick. Their daughter Maeve Brennan grew up to become a very well-known writer.
Úna's nephew is the famous racehorse trainer Jim Bolger. The writer Roddy Doyle is her great-nephew. Robert Brennan was involved in politics and worked in the USA for a time. The couple returned to Ireland in 1947. They lived in Rathfarnham, Dublin, where Robert Brennan became the Director of Broadcasting at Radio Éireann. Úna Brennan passed away in 1958.
