Fanny Parnell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fanny Parnell
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| Born | September 4, 1848 Avondale, County Wicklow, Ireland
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| Died | June 20, 1882 (aged 33) Bordentown, New Jersey, United States
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| Resting place | Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States |
| Occupation | Poet |
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Frances Isabelle Parnell (born September 4, 1848 – died July 20, 1882) was a talented Irish poet and a strong supporter of Irish independence. She was the sister of Charles Stewart Parnell and Anna Catherine Parnell, who were also very important people in Ireland during the 1800s.
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Early Life of Frances Parnell
Frances Parnell was born on September 4, 1848, in Avondale, County Wicklow, Ireland. Her family was wealthy and Protestant. She was one of eleven children born to John Henry Parnell, a landowner, and Delia Tudor Stewart Parnell. Her mother, Delia, was Irish-American. She strongly disliked British rule in Ireland, and this feeling influenced her children.
As a child, Frances was very smart. She studied math, chemistry, and astronomy. She could also speak and write several European languages fluently. Besides her studies, she was good at music, painting, and drawing.
When Frances was young, her parents separated. After her father passed away in 1859, she and her mother moved to Dalkey, then to Dublin. In 1865, they moved to Paris, France. They joined her mother's brother there.
Frances and her mother were still in Paris when the Franco-Prussian War started in 1870. They joined a group called the American Ladies’ Committee. They helped wounded people and raised money for a hospital. They also helped set up the hospital and managed its supplies.
In 1874, Frances's uncle died. She and her mother left Paris and returned to their family home in Bordentown, New Jersey, in the United States. This is where Frances began her work in politics.
Frances Parnell's Writings
Frances Parnell was known as the "Patriot Poet." She was very interested in Irish politics. Much of her poetry was about Irish nationalism, which means supporting Ireland's independence.
While living in Dublin in 1864, she started publishing her poems. She used the pen name "Aleria." Her poems appeared in The Irish People, a newspaper of the Fenian Brotherhood. Later, most of her work was published in The Boston Pilot. This was the most famous Irish newspaper in the United States at that time.
Two of her most well-known works were a pamphlet called The Hovels of Ireland and a collection of poems called Land League Songs. Her most famous poem is "Hold the Harvest." Michael Davitt, an important Irish leader, called it the “Marseillaise of the Irish peasant.” This meant it was a powerful song that inspired people, much like the French national anthem.
About The Hovels of Ireland
The Hovels of Ireland was a 27-page pamphlet published in February 1880. In this pamphlet, Frances wrote about the unfair treatment of Irish farmers. She also expressed her anger towards the wealthy Irish landowners. This was interesting because her own family was part of that land-owning class.
In the pamphlet, Frances explained that even though her family owned land, they were still Irish nationalists. She wrote that it is a good thing when people stand up against unfairness and misuse of power, even if it doesn't directly affect them. This pamphlet was printed in many newspapers and journals. It sold for 25 cents, and the money raised went to help people during a famine.
Leading the Ladies' Land League
Frances's brother, Charles, became very involved in the Land League in 1879. This group fought for the rights of poor tenant farmers in Ireland. Frances strongly supported his work.
In 1880, Frances and her younger sister, Anna, helped start the Ladies' Land League. Their goal was to raise money in America for the Land League. In 1881, many men from the Land League were put in prison by the British government. The Ladies' Land League bravely continued their work.
In Ireland, Anna became the president of the Ladies' Land League. The women held many protests and became even more determined than the men. This sometimes caused problems with the male leaders. Frances stayed in the United States. She worked hard to raise money for the organization. Most of the Land League's financial support came from the United States, thanks to Frances's efforts.
Later Life and Passing
Frances Parnell passed away on July 20, 1882. She was 33 years old. She died of a heart attack at her family's home in Bordentown, New Jersey. She was buried in the Tudor family plot at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. At the time of her death, her mother, three brothers, and four sisters were still alive.
