Brigid Lyons Thornton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brigid Lyons Thornton
Brigid Lyons Thornton c. 1922
Born	Brigid Lyons 13 May 1896 Northyard, Scramogue, near Strokestown in County Roscommon, Ireland
Died	15 November 1987 (91 years of age) Foxford, County Mayo, Ireland
Occupation	Doctor
Military Service
Allegiance	Irish Free State
Service/branch	National Army
Rank	Commandant in Cumann na mBan Medical Officer in National Army
Unit	Cumann na mBan
Battles/wars	Easter Rising Irish Civil War

Brigid Lyons Thornton (born May 13, 1896 – died November 15, 1987) was an amazing Irish woman. She was a member of Cumann na mBan, which was an organization for women involved in the fight for Irish independence. She also became an officer in the Irish Free State Army and was a doctor. Brigid was a strong-willed person who got involved in the Irish independence movement from a young age. Her first small act was selling badges and flags at a big funeral for a famous Irish nationalist.

Brigid's Early Life

Brigid Lyons Thornton was born in Northyard Scramogue, County Roscommon, on May 13, 1896. Her father, Patrick Lyons, was a farmer and an Irish nationalist. Her mother was Margaret McGuinness.

When she was young, Brigid moved to Longford. She lived with her uncle Frank McGuinness and his wife Kate. They paid for her to go to secondary school. Her uncle Frank helped her become very interested in politics and Irish history. He was a well-known person in Irish history and even served as a senator for five years.

Becoming a Doctor and Officer

Brigid was a medical student and a member of Cumann na mBan. She was involved with the Irish Volunteers during the 1916 Easter Rising. Because of this, she was arrested and put in Kilmainham Gaol with other Irish Volunteers.

She finished medical school in Galway in 1922. She was the youngest medical student there. Brigid became the only female officer ever to be given a special role in the new Irish Free State Army.

Brigid met Edward Thornton when she became sick with a serious lung illness called tuberculosis. She was sent to Switzerland with other officers who had the same condition. While she was a patient, Brigid learned how to treat tuberculosis. This knowledge was very helpful later in her life.

Public Health Work

In 1927, Brigid earned a special degree in public health. She then started working in the public health service. She first worked in County Kildare, then moved to County Cork, and finally ended up in Dublin. She worked there until she retired. Brigid Thornton helped treat many diseases that spread easily.

Marriage and Family Life

Brigid married Captain Edward Thornton on October 10, 1925. Their wedding was a quiet gathering of family and friends in Dublin. Her husband went back to Switzerland to recover from his illness and was later cured. He became a lawyer.

Brigid was very dedicated to her work in the public health system in Ireland. She lived in Ireland permanently. Her husband lived in Switzerland for most of the winter months because of his health. They kept their relationship strong by writing letters and by Captain Thornton visiting Ireland every year. They are buried together in Toomore Cemetery.

Role in the 1916 Easter Rising

Brigid went back to Longford when she heard about the 1916 Easter Rising. Her uncle Joe McGuinness was fighting in the Four Courts in Dublin. Famous leaders like Patrick Pearse, James Connolly, and Michael Collins were also there.

Brigid decided to join her Uncle Frank and the volunteers he had gathered in Dublin. They managed to get past the blockades to enter the Four Courts. Brigid and other women from Cumann na mBan provided food and took care of the wounded rebels. She worked as a nurse for the volunteers who had taken over the Four Courts and nearby streets.

After the rebels surrendered, Brigid was put in jail in Kilmainham with her friends. While in prison, she heard that 14 of her heroes had been executed. After she was released, she went back to Galway to continue studying medicine.

Revolutionary Activities

It was very unusual for women to be involved in politics and medicine back then. These areas were mostly for men. But Brigid's strong love for her country led her to join Sinn Féin and Cumann na mBan.

Even though women had limited roles, Brigid was a rebel, a soldier, and a medical officer. In 1917, she started a Cumann na mBan group in Galway. She was a messenger and was involved in the Easter Rising in 1916, which led to her imprisonment.

Despite all this, Brigid qualified as a doctor in 1922. Later, Michael Collins asked her to be the first and only woman to become an officer in the Free State Army. She helped form the medical services when a new Irish Medical Service was created in 1922.

Medical Career and Public Health

Brigid Thornton dedicated her life to both fighting for Ireland and working in medicine. She was a doctor, a teacher, and a scientist. Her work as a doctor wasn't just in hospitals; she also volunteered a lot.

She taught women about the importance of keeping things clean for their children's health. She also explained how diseases spread in poor areas of the city. This work was hard because there wasn't enough money for public health services to help ordinary people. Clean water was hard to get, and a type of stomach bug caused many babies to die.

When she was young, Brigid wanted to be a teacher. But as women's roles in society changed, she was able to study medicine. She pursued a greater role in this field. Her dedication to her country made her a famous name in history.

In 1917, Brigid received a scholarship to study medicine at University College Galway. She graduated in 1922. She also earned a special postgraduate degree in public health from the National University of Ireland (now University College Dublin) in 1927.

In the 1950s, when vaccines were developed, Brigid helped fight the tuberculosis outbreak in Ireland. She was involved in introducing the BCG vaccine, as she and her husband Edward had both suffered from the illness. She worked in the public sector in many areas, including as a medical officer for the Kildare and Cork Boards of Health. She was also an assistant medical officer for the Dublin Health Authority. She also worked as a medical inspector at the Carnegie Centre in Dublin.

Later Life and Legacy

Throughout her life, Brigid was passionate about helping people. She worked as a librarian at the Rotunda Hospital. There, she advised new doctors and always kept up with the latest medical practices. Brigid was also very involved in the Medical Benevolent Fund, which helps doctors in need. After she retired, she spent time as a researcher at Trinity College Dublin.

Death and Burial

Brigid lived a long life. She outlived her husband, Captain Edward Thornton, who died in 1946. They did not have any children. She had some health problems in her late seventies and retired. However, she continued to volunteer at The Rotunda Maternity Hospital. Brigid Lyons Thornton died on November 15, 1987, at the age of 91. Her death certificate stated she died of cardiac-respiratory arrest (her heart and breathing stopped).

Thornton was buried on the 71st anniversary of the Easter Rising in Toomore Cemetery, Foxford, County Mayo. Members of the Western Command gave her military honors at her burial. Her coffin was covered with the Irish flag.

Images for kids

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  Brigid Lyons Thornton c. 1922