Kathleen Browne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kathleen Browne
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Senator | |
| In office June 1929 – May 1936 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 October 1876 Bridgetown, County Wexford |
| Died | 9 October 1943 (aged 67) |
| Political party | Cumann na nGaedheal |
Kathleen Anne Browne (born 1 October 1876, died 9 October 1943) was an important Irish woman. She was a politician, a farmer, a writer, and a historian. She also studied old buildings and objects as an archaeologist. Kathleen was arrested after a big event called the Easter Rising. Later, she became a member of the Irish parliament, the Seanad Éireann, from 1929 to 1936. She also spoke a special old language from Wexford called Yola.
Contents
Kathleen Browne's Early Life
Kathleen Browne was born on 1 October 1876. Her father, Michael Browne, was a farmer, shopkeeper, and local politician. Her mother was Mary Eleanor Stafford. Kathleen was the oldest of five children. Her father's family had lived in Rathcronan Castle since the 1200s. Her mother's family lived in Baldwinstown Castle. Kathleen's father supported Home Rule, which meant Ireland governing itself.
Kathleen went to a convent school in Wexford. From a young age, she was interested in politics, just like her father. She joined the Kilmore branch of the Ladies' Land League, a group that helped farmers. She loved Irish history and culture. She even dressed in Celtic clothes and posed with an Irish Wolfhound. Kathleen was also the secretary for the county committee of the Gaelic League, which promoted the Irish language.
Kathleen became an expert in farming and dairy management. She gave talks for the government's farming department. She was one of the first farmers in Ireland to grow sugar beet. She was also part of important farming groups like the Beet Growers Association. When her father passed away in 1912, Kathleen took over running the family farm.
Her Role in Irish Politics
In 1912, Kathleen joined Sinn Féin, a political party. In 1914, she joined the Irish Volunteers, a group of people who wanted Ireland to be independent. During the Easter Rising, a major event in Irish history, she flew the Irish flag from her family home. Because of this, she was arrested and held in Kilmainham Gaol and Mountjoy Prison. Her friend, Nell Ryan, was also arrested with her.
Later, during the Irish Civil War, Kathleen supported the side that signed a peace treaty with Britain. She joined the political party Cumann na nGaedheal. Sadly, her friendship with Nell Ryan ended because Nell supported the other side.
Kathleen was elected to the Seanad Éireann, which was part of the Irish parliament. She became a senator in 1929. She was re-elected several times and served until 1936.
In 1933, she joined a group called the Army Comrades Association, also known as the Blueshirts. She wore their blue blouse in parliament. Because of this, wearing political uniforms was banned in both houses of parliament. Kathleen said she wasn't a fascist. She joined the Blueshirts because she shared their views against communism and for Irish independence. When the Blueshirts joined with another party to form Fine Gael, she stayed with Fine Gael. She became good friends with the new Fine Gael leader, W. T. Cosgrave. She served as a senator until the Seanad was ended in 1936.
Kathleen's Work in History and Nature
Kathleen Browne was very interested in history and preserving old things. She was a member of several historical societies, including the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. She wrote many articles about the history of County Wexford. She was especially interested in the Norman period and the old castles there. In 1927, a book she wrote, Short History of County Wexford, was approved as a textbook for schools.
Kathleen was also a naturalist, meaning she loved nature. She played a key role in making Great Saltee Island a special place for birds in 1938. It became a bird sanctuary to protect them.
The Yola Language
Kathleen Browne was able to speak Yola. This was an old English-like language that used to be spoken in parts of Wexford, but it is no longer spoken today. She wrote several articles about the Yola language. One of her articles was called The Ancient Dialect of the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, written in 1927.
Later Life and Legacy
Kathleen Browne passed away in a nursing home on 9 October 1943. She was 67 years old. To honor her, the Kathleen Browne Festival is held every year in her hometown of Bridgetown.
Images for kids
-
Kathleen Anne Browne
