Fannie Gallaher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fannie Gallaher
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Advert for F.M.Gallaher's books for children in 1889
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| Born |
Francesca Mary Gallaher
30 May 1854 Cork, Ireland
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| Died | 22 December 1935 (aged 81) London, England
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| Other names | Sydney Starr and F.M.Gallaher |
| Education | Alexandra College |
| Employer | Alexandra College and Adeline Marie Russell, Duchess of Bedford |
| Known for | writing |
Francesca (Fannie) Mary Gallaher (born May 30, 1854 – died December 22, 1935) was an Irish writer, novelist, and teacher. She was also known by her pen names Sydney Starr and F.M.Gallaher.
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About Fannie Gallaher
Fannie Gallaher was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1854. Her family soon moved to Dublin, where she grew up. Her father, John Blake Gallaher, was an editor for the Freeman's Journal newspaper for almost 30 years. Fannie also had two brothers who became writers.
Early Life and Education
Fannie Gallaher attended Alexandra College in Dublin. After she finished her studies, she became a teacher at the same college. But teaching was not her only talent. She also loved to write stories.
Becoming a Writer
In 1880, Fannie Gallaher published her first novel, Katty the flash: a mould of Dublin mud. She used the pen name Sydney Starr for this book. In the same year, her publishers also released another book called A Son of Man, also under the name Sydney Starr.
Katty the Flash became quite popular. It was even republished in the New York Sun newspaper and Temple Bar magazine. However, there was some confusion and trouble with the New York Sun. They published her story but changed it and put the name of another writer, May Laffan Hartley, on it.
Fannie Gallaher was very upset about this. She wrote a letter in 1883 to protest the changes and the fact that her story was published under someone else's name. This letter was published, and the New York Sun was criticized for what they did. Even today, some records still mistakenly say that Hartley wrote Gallaher's story. Later on, people who studied her books noted how real her stories felt, especially about city life. They also noticed how she showed women as important characters, whether they were good or bad.
Fannie Gallaher also wrote stories especially for children. These stories were published in the 1880s.
Working for the Duchess
In 1884, Fannie Gallaher started a new job. She became the personal secretary to Adeline Marie Russell. The Duchess of Bedford was a very important person who worked to improve prisons. Fannie Gallaher stayed in this job for many years, until 1920. When the Duchess passed away, she left Fannie Gallaher a yearly payment of £400. This payment helped Fannie live comfortably.
Fannie Gallaher also wrote books about teaching domestic science. This is a subject that teaches about running a home, like cooking and managing a household. These books were used in schools in Northern Ireland. The Dublin Journal of Medical Science even said her books were very important for new families.
Her Legacy
Fannie Gallaher passed away on December 22, 1935, in a nursing home in Sussex, England. Her writing left an important mark. Some experts say that her stories, along with those of May Laffan, described Irish cities in a new and fresh way. This style of writing later influenced famous authors like James Joyce and James Stephens.
