Leslie de Barra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leslie de Barra
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| Born |
Leslie Price
9 January 1893 |
| Died | 9 April 1984 (aged 91) |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Other names | Leslie Barry, Mrs Tom Barry |
Leslie Mary de Barra (born Leslie Price; 9 January 1893 – 9 April 1984) was an important Irish woman. She was a nationalist and republican, meaning she strongly supported Ireland's independence. She played a big part in major events like the Easter Rising in 1916, the Irish War of Independence, and the Irish Civil War.
Leslie de Barra became a leader in an organization called Cumann na mBan, which was a women's group supporting Irish independence. Later in her life, she became the chairman and President of the Irish Red Cross, helping many people in need.
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Early Life: Growing Up in Ireland
Leslie Mary Price was born in Dublin in 1893. Her father was a blacksmith, and she was one of six children. She dreamed of becoming a teacher. By 1911, she was working as a Monitress, which was a common way for girls to start a teaching career back then.
Her two brothers were involved with the Irish Volunteers, a group working for Irish freedom. Leslie also joined Cumann na mBan. Before the Easter Rising, there was a lot of confusion. Leslie said she "did not question anything" because strange things often happened in her house as they waited for orders for the Rising.
Easter Rising: A Time of Rebellion
During the Easter Rising in 1916, Leslie de Barra had a very important job. She was a courier, which meant she carried messages and ammunition. She moved between the main headquarters at the GPO and other rebel posts.
She did her job very well and was promoted during the Rising. Leslie admitted that her work was very stressful. She was stationed at both the GPO and the Hibernian Bank. While at the bank, she came very close to danger. She was standing next to Captain Thomas Weafer when he was shot. Another soldier who tried to help him was also shot. Leslie barely had time to reach Captain Weafer before he died. She was the one sent to find a priest for the dying and wounded soldiers.
By Friday evening, Leslie was back at the GPO. She was part of the group that was evacuated to a hospital. After that, she went to Jacob's factory to check on other rebels. She was arrested briefly at Broadstone Station but was quickly released.
After the Rising: Building a Movement
By 1918, Leslie de Barra was a representative for West Cork in the Cumann na mBan meetings. She became a member of their main committee. In 1918, she left her teaching job to work full-time for the republican movement.
She traveled all over Ireland by train and bicycle. Her goal was to get more women to join local Cumann na mBan groups. She encouraged them to take part in activities needed for the movement. In just one year, the organization grew from 17 branches to over 600! She was the Director of Cumann na mBan until the end of the war.
Leslie de Barra married Tom Barry on August 22, 1921, in Cork. This was during a time of truce before the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed. Important people like Éamon de Valera and Michael Collins were guests at their wedding. Her husband, Tom Barry, was strongly against the Treaty, even though he had been friends with Collins. Interestingly, while Leslie was fighting in Dublin during the Rising, Tom was serving in the British Army in the First World War.
Helping Others: Humanitarian Work
In her later years, Leslie de Barra played a huge role in the Irish Red Cross. She first got involved by helping to care for children who had lost their parents during the Second World War.
She traveled the world, representing the Irish Red Cross at conferences in many countries. She and her husband also helped refugees from Czechoslovakia and Poland. Through the Red Cross, she even found out what happened to Irish people held by the Spanish during the Spanish Civil War. Ireland was officially neutral, so it couldn't get involved directly. Leslie de Barra was the Chairman of the Irish Red Cross from 1950 to 1973.
Leslie de Barra also helped set up the Voluntary Health Insurance organization in the late 1950s. In 1962, with the Red Cross, she started the "Freedom from Hunger" campaign in Ireland. This campaign later became the organization Gorta, and Leslie was also its chairman.
In 1956, a memorial for the 1916 Rising was revealed in Limerick. Leslie de Barra unveiled this monument.
In 1963, she received an honorary degree from University College Dublin. This was a special award given to her and others, including Éamon de Valera.
In 1971, her story was shared on Raidió Teilifís Éireann as part of a series about Ireland's journey to independence.
In 1979, she won the Henry Dunant Medal. This is the highest award given by the Red Cross Movement, showing her amazing dedication.
Leslie de Barra and her husband lived in Cork until he passed away in 1980. She died on April 9, 1984, in Cork and is buried with her husband. Today, she is remembered with the Leslie Bean de Barra Trophy, awarded to the Cork Area Carer of the Year.
