Helen Laird facts for kids

Helen Laird (born 1874, died 1957) was a talented Irish actress. She was also known by her stage name, ‘Honor Lavelle’. Besides acting, she worked as a costume designer, a teacher, and was a strong supporter of women's rights.

Early Life and Acting Career

Helen Laird was born in Limerick, Ireland, on April 12, 1874. Her father, John Laird, was a pharmacist. Around the age of 24, Helen joined two important Irish groups. These were the Gaelic League and Inghinidhe na hÉireann. The Gaelic League worked to keep the Irish language and culture alive. Inginidhe na hÉireann was a women's nationalist and cultural organization.

While with these groups, Helen met many other Irish actors and writers. These included Máire Nic Shiubhlaigh, Máire Quinn, and Padraic Colum. She also took drama classes. Soon, Willie and Frank Fay started a theatre group. It was called W. G. Fay's Irish National Dramatic Company. Their first plays were ‘Deirdre’ by AE and ‘Cathleen ni Houlihan’ by W. B. Yeats and Lady Gregory. Famous actress Maud Gonne starred in ‘Cathleen ni Houlihan’. Helen Laird helped by designing costumes and painting sets for the plays.

This theatre group later became the Irish National Theatre Society. Together, they formed the very first acting company for the famous Abbey Theatre in Dublin.

On Stage as Honor Lavelle

In 1902, Helen Laird acted in a play called ‘Laying the foundations’ by Fred Ryan. For this role, she used her stage name, ‘Honor Lavelle’. She appeared in most of the plays that followed. Her most important role was playing Maurya in the first ever performance of ‘Riders to the sea’. This play was written by J. M. Synge and first performed in 1903.

While critics did not always praise her acting, Helen received great reviews for her performance as Maurya. At first, the famous writer W. B. Yeats liked her acting in ‘Cathleen ni Houlihan’. However, he later changed his mind about her skills.

Forming a New Theatre Group

In 1906, Helen Laird disagreed with Yeats about the Abbey Theatre. She felt it was becoming too focused on making money. She sided with Edward Martyn, another important figure in Irish theatre. They decided to start a new theatre group. It was called the Theatre of Ireland. Other actors like Nic Shiubhlaigh and Seumas O'Sullivan joined them. Their first plays included ‘The racing lug’ by James Cousins and ‘Casadh-an-tsúgán’ by Douglas Hyde. Helen Laird had roles in both of these productions. During this time, she lived in Fairview, Dublin.

Beyond the Stage: Teaching and Activism

While Helen Laird was acting, she also worked as a science teacher. She taught at Alexandra College, a girls' school in Dublin. She also wrote articles about plants for different magazines. Helen was friends with well-known scientists like Robert Lloyd Praeger, Augustine Henry, and Grenville Cole.

Because she was part of the Gaelic League and Inginidhe na hÉireann, Helen was also very active in politics. She was friends with Maud Gonne and Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, who were both strong activists. Helen was a member of the Irish Women's Franchise League. This group worked to get women the right to vote.

In 1911, Helen and Maud Gonne started the Ladies’ School Dinners Committee. This group made sure that 450 children from the poorest schools in Dublin received meals. In 1912, the Irish Women's Franchise League sent Helen to London. Her mission was to help get 100,000 women the right to vote. She worked to include a special rule in a new law that would give women this right.

Later Life and Family

On December 17, 1913, Helen Laird married Con Curran. He was a lawyer and a critic. Even after marrying, she continued to work as a costume designer. She designed costumes for a play called ‘Uncle Vanya’. She also acted in Pádraic Ó Conaire's play ‘Bairbre Ruadh’. For this role, she used the Irish version of her name, ‘Eibhlis nic a Bhaird’.

Helen Laird dedicated thirty years of her life to working with the Save the Children Fund. This organization helps children in need around the world. She lived in Rathgar, Dublin, and had a daughter named Elizabeth Curran. Elizabeth grew up to become an art critic.

Helen Laird passed away on October 5, 1957, in Dublin. She was buried in Deansgrange cemetery. Her funeral was a large event, and the President of Ireland, Seán T. O'Kelly, attended.