Anne Deane facts for kids

Anne Deane (born around 1834 – died July 3, 1905) was an important Irish woman. She was a strong supporter of Irish independence and a very successful businesswoman.

Anne Deane's Early Life

Anne Deane was born Anne Duff in a place called Ballaghaderreen in County Roscommon, Ireland. This was around the year 1834. Her parents were Joseph and Monica Duff. Her mother's brother was John Blake Dillon, who was a well-known Irish nationalist.

After her father passed away, Anne's mother took over their family store, Monica Duff & Co Ltd. Anne was taught at home by her brother's tutor. She was especially good at mathematics. When she was young, she spent time in Dublin with her uncle. There, she met many people who supported Irish independence.

Anne planned to marry a lawyer named Edward Deane. At first, her mother didn't approve. But after her uncle helped, Anne and Edward married in February 1864.

A Successful Businesswoman

Later, her mother's business faced some difficulties. Anne returned to Ballaghaderreen to help. She stayed there even after her husband passed away when she was still young. Anne was very talented at running the shop. When she took over from her mother, it became the biggest and most successful business in the west of Ireland.

A famous visitor named Andrew Kettle noticed how skilled she was. He said she was "a remarkable woman" who managed a business that seemed like the center of a whole region, not just a small town. Anne also kept in touch with her friends from Foxford. When a group of nuns, the Sisters of Charity, came to Ballaghaderreen, Anne was a big supporter. She gave them a lot of money and even paid for their meals sometimes.

Supporting Irish Independence

Anne Deane did not have her own children. However, she helped raise the young children of her uncle, John Blake Dillon, after both he and his wife passed away. Her uncle's son, John Dillon, spent a lot of time with Anne. He thought of her as a second mother. Anne gave John Dillon a large amount of money, which helped him get married.

Anne was a strong supporter of "home rule" for Ireland. This meant that Ireland should govern itself instead of being ruled by Britain. Her home was a meeting place for local people who wanted Irish independence. In January 1881, she helped start the Ladies' Land League. This group worked to help farmers and gain more rights for Irish people. Anne was chosen as the honorary president. However, because her business took up so much of her time, Anna Catherine Parnell was seen as the main leader of the group.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1904, Anne Deane had a fall. This led her to move into a nursing home run by the Sisters of Charity in Dublin. She passed away there on July 3, 1905. Anne was buried at Strade Abbey in County Mayo. John Dillon had a special message put on her tombstone. It said that he owed her everything, showing how much she meant to him and how important she was in his life.