Mary Barry O'Delaney facts for kids

Mary Barry O'Delaney (born Mary Barry Delany; 1862–1947) was an important Irish journalist and a strong supporter of Irish independence. She used her writing to share news and promote her beliefs.

Mary O'Delaney's Life

Mary Barry Delany was born in 1862. She later changed her name to O'Delaney when she started working as a journalist. In 1883, she moved from Ireland to Paris, France. There, she earned a living by writing for newspapers.

Early Career and Beliefs

Mary was a very religious Catholic. Because of this, many of her early articles were about religious topics. She also loved writing stories, including ghost stories, and poems for newspapers throughout her life.

By the 1890s, Mary was working as the Paris reporter for the Daily Irish Independent newspaper. This meant she sent news from Paris back to Ireland.

Working with Maud Gonne

Around this time, Mary O'Delaney became good friends with Maud Gonne. Maud Gonne was another famous Irish nationalist. Mary admired Maud greatly, even comparing her to Joan of Arc in a poem.

Mary and Maud worked together for many years. Mary often helped Maud with her research. She was also Maud's assistant editor for a French newspaper called L'Irlande Libre. This newspaper supported Irish independence.

In 1897, a group called the Paris Young Ireland Society was formed. This group worked to support Ireland's freedom. Mary O'Delaney became its secretary. She sent reports about the group's work to newspapers in Ireland.

In 1900, Mary suggested a special edition of L'Irlande Libre. This issue was meant to criticize Queen Victoria during her visit to Ireland. It blamed her for the Irish famine and other problems in Ireland. The British authorities in Dublin banned this newspaper issue in Ireland.

Later Life and Family

After Maud Gonne's marriage ended, Mary O'Delaney lived with Maud. She helped Maud raise her children. Mary had a very close bond with Maud's son, Seán MacBride. She even called him her "glory boy." When Seán was born in 1904, Mary sent a telegram to Pope Pius X. She announced that the "future King of Ireland" had been born.

Mary was not as close to Maud's daughter, Iseult. Iseult sometimes found Mary's strong religious beliefs a bit much. Mary also worked as a secretary for the famous writer W. B. Yeats when he visited France.

When Maud Gonne returned to Ireland in 1918, Mary went with her. Mary looked after Maud's affairs when Maud was put in prison. During the Irish War of Independence, Mary was injured. Her knee was badly hurt by a bullet.

Later in life, Mary lived at the Gonne–MacBride family home, Roebuck House, in Clonskeagh, County Dublin. She and Maud Gonne continued to work together on political activities until Mary's death in 1947. Mary used several different names when she wrote. These included "MD," "MB," "M.O'D.," and pen names like "Joseph May."