Catherine Mahon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Catherine Mahon
Born	15 May 1869 Laccah, north Co. Tipperary
Died	27 February 1948 Balbriggan, Co. Dublin
Nationality	Irish

Catherine Mahon (1869–1948) was an important Irish teacher and leader. She made history by becoming the first woman president of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO). This was a big step for women in leadership and for teachers' rights in Ireland.

Early Life and Becoming a Teacher

Catherine Mahon was born on May 15, 1869, in a place called Laccah in County Tipperary, Ireland. She was the oldest of seven children. Her father, James Mahon, was a labourer, and her mother, Winifred Mahon, ran a shop.

Catherine went to Carrig national school. Later, she attended secondary school with the Sisters of Mercy in Birr. In October 1884, she started working as a "monitor" there. This was a special way to train to become a teacher back then. She finished her training by studying at home and passed her final exams in 1890.

After her training, Catherine taught for a short time in Tulla Convent in County Clare. Most of her teaching career was spent in Tipperary. She taught at Nenagh convent and also became the principal (head teacher) of Glenculloo school. From September 1891 to April 1892, she was the principal of a small school in Glenculloo with about 30 students. After that, she became the principal of Carrig national school.

Leading the Irish National Teachers' Organisation

Catherine Mahon was very involved in important groups of her time. She was a member of the Gaelic League, which promoted Irish language and culture. She also joined the Irish Women's Franchise League, which worked for women's right to vote. She supported their ideas, even if she wasn't a very active protester.

In 1906, Catherine started working with the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), which is a trade union for teachers. She joined the Birr Association and gave a speech at the INTO's yearly meeting. In her speech, she talked about the need for equal pay for men and women teachers. She also pointed out that there were no women on the INTO's main leadership team.

Catherine decided to do something about this. In March 1907, she put herself forward to be the Vice-President. Even though she wasn't elected that time, her actions made a big impact. The INTO realized they needed more women in leadership. So, they created new positions on their leadership team just for women, and they offered one to Catherine.

In her first few years with the INTO, Catherine achieved many good things. She helped more teachers join the union. She also stopped women teachers from being forced to teach subjects like Laundry and Cookery if they didn't want to. In 1908, when a special grant (the Birrell grant) was given to teachers, Catherine showed that it proved men and women teachers should get equal pay.

Becoming the First Woman President

In April 1911, Catherine Mahon was elected Vice-President of the INTO without anyone running against her. That year, she worked to make sure that teachers on maternity leave (time off after having a baby) didn't have to pay for their own substitute teachers.

Then, in 1912, Catherine Mahon made history! She was elected the first woman president of the INTO. Soon after she became president, there was a big problem. The vice-president, Edmond Mansfield, was dismissed, and there were disagreements between the INTO and the board of education. Catherine was sent to London to ask the chief secretary, Augustine Birrell, to investigate the situation. Even though the secretary didn't agree with her at first, he admitted she presented the case very well. Because of her efforts, a special investigation called the Dill Commission was set up.

Catherine was re-elected president in 1913, which was unusual because presidents usually only served one term. A teachers' newspaper said she was like a "general" who had "routed the enemy's cavalry" and should stay in charge. This allowed her to speak as president to the Dill Commission. The commission agreed with the teachers and suggested changes, but it didn't recommend bringing Mansfield back. Because of this, Catherine resigned from the leadership team the next year, stepping down in Easter 1916. She was also questioned for supporting the Easter Rising, a rebellion for Irish independence.

In her last year on the leadership team, Catherine fought against a "War bonus" that gave men teachers double the pay of women teachers. She protested this unfairness and was successful in November 1916. In 1919, she spoke out against a new education bill and accused some INTO leaders of being too friendly with the British government. She was even charged with libel (saying something untrue that harms someone's reputation), but she refused to accept the British court's authority. Once she stopped speaking publicly about it, the INTO dropped the case. After this, she didn't take part in national public life anymore.

It took a long time for another woman to become president of the INTO. That happened in 1945, when Kathleen Clarke was elected.

Later Life and Community Work

After her time with the INTO, Catherine Mahon continued to be active in her community. She became president of the Tipperary Cottage Tenants’ Association, which helped people who rented small homes. She was also a member of Fianna Fáil from the very beginning of the political party.

Catherine retired from teaching in July 1934. After that, she became the first woman elected to the county council in North Tipperary. She served there for three years before resigning. In 1937, Catherine moved to Dublin and lived with her mother and two widowed sisters in Balbriggan. There, she was involved with the local Red Cross, a group that helps people in need. Catherine Mahon died in Balbriggan and was buried there.