Catherine Rooney facts for kids

Catherine Rooney (born Catherine Byrne; 1896–1971) was an Irish woman who played an important part in Ireland's fight for independence. She was active during the Easter Rising in 1916 and the Irish War of Independence. She believed Ireland should be a free and independent country.

Early Life and Joining the Cause

Catherine Elizabeth Byrne was born in Dublin, Ireland, on 14 April 1896. Her father, Peter Byrne, worked as a coach trimmer. Catherine was one of 12 children in her family. She left school at age 14 to work as a shop assistant.

In 1915, her brother Paddy joined a group called the Irish Volunteers. This group wanted Ireland to be independent from British rule. Inspired by her brother, Catherine joined Cumann na mBan. This was a women's organization that supported the Irish Volunteers. Catherine took part in all their training exercises and learned important first aid skills.

Catherine's Role in the Easter Rising

On Easter Monday in 1916, Catherine learned that the Easter Rising had begun. This was a rebellion against British rule in Ireland. She quickly went to the main headquarters for the rebels, which was the General Post Office (GPO) in Dublin.

At first, the men at the GPO didn't want to let her in. But Catherine was determined! She got a boost to a side window and kicked it open to get inside. She immediately started helping the wounded. She even used pieces of her own petticoat to make bandages for the first injured people.

One of her first patients was Liam Clarke, who had a head wound from an explosion. She patched him up until he could be moved to a proper first aid station. Thomas Corbally was another early patient, who was cut while entering the GPO.

During the week of the Rising, Catherine was sent on many dangerous missions. She carried messages while under fire, going to places like the Hibernian Bank, the Four Courts, and Capel Street. She was almost shot several times, finding bullet holes in her hat. She had clever ways to hide messages so they wouldn't be found. On one trip, she tied a secret note into her hair! She finished the week working at a rebel base on King Street. When the rebels surrendered, Catherine managed to avoid being arrested.

After the Rising: Continuing the Fight

After the Easter Rising, Catherine and her sister moved to Glasgow, Scotland, for work. Even there, they quickly found the local Cumann na mBan group and got involved again.

Catherine helped transport important supplies like ammunition and explosives back to Ireland. She once used injuries from a tram accident to pretend she was more hurt than she was. This helped her hide fuses for explosives in a sling on her arm, allowing her to get them past watchful police during World War I. She managed to do this more than once!

In 1919, Catherine returned home to Dublin for good. Her family's house became a secret hub for the Irish Volunteers. They stored ammunition there, held meetings, and even hid men who were trying to avoid being caught by the authorities. Catherine helped check out ambush sites before attacks and was present during them to hide weapons if any men were injured.

The Byrne house also became a first aid station during difficult times. Catherine acted as a nurse for wounded men during Bloody Sunday in 1920, a very violent day in Dublin.

Catherine Rooney married in Dublin in 1922 and passed away in March 1971.