Nell Ryan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nell Ryan
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Ellen Ryan
5 July 1881 Tomcoole, Ireland
|
| Died | 8 December 1959 (aged 78) Wexford, Ireland
|
| Nationality | Irish |
| Relatives |
|
Ellen Ryan (born July 5, 1881 – died December 8, 1959) was an important Irish woman who worked for Irish independence. She was a key organiser for Cumann na mBan, a women's group that supported Irish freedom. She also became a County Councillor, which means she helped run local government in her area.
Ellen, also known as Nell, came from the famous Ryan family of Tomcoole, who were very involved in Irish politics. Even though she wasn't part of the Easter Rising in 1916, she was still arrested and put in prison. After she was released, she joined Sinn Féin, a political party. She continued her work with Cumann na mBan in Wexford. During the Irish Civil War, she was arrested again for not supporting the Anglo-Irish Treaty. She even went on a hunger strike with other women prisoners. Later, Nell Ryan made history by becoming the first woman ever elected to the Wexford County Council.
Contents
Nell Ryan's Early Life and Family
Ellen "Nell" Ryan was born on July 5, 1881, in Tomcoole, County Wexford. Her parents were John and Eliza Ryan. She was one of twelve children in her family. All of them went to secondary school, and nine of them even went to university. Nell studied at Loreto College in Dublin. She became a teacher and taught in places like San Sebastián, Spain, and Fulda, Germany. After some years, she came back to Ireland.
The Ryan family was very important in the fight for Irish independence. They also helped shape the new Irish Free State. Nell's sister, Josephine Ryan, helped start Cumann na mBan. Her other sisters, Phyllis, Mary Kate, and Agnes, were also members. Their brother, James, joined the Irish Volunteers. He later became a politician and a government minister. Many of Nell's family members married other important leaders in the Irish republican movement. Nell herself was a close friend to almost every leader in the movement.
Her Role in the 1916 Rising
Nell Ryan joined Cumann na mBan in 1914. She helped organise the group in Wexford. When the Easter Rising began in 1916, Nell was in Wexford. Her sisters Min and Phyllis, and her brother Jim, were in Dublin at the GPO. Even though Nell wasn't directly involved in the fighting, she was arrested in Enniscorthy. This happened along with other Cumann na mBan members after the Rising. She was first held in Waterford Barracks and then moved to Richmond Barracks in Dublin.
Nell was one of the few women sent to Lewes Prison in England. Other famous women like Countess Markievicz were also there. Nell was one of the prisoners who stayed the longest. She was finally released on October 13, 1916. After returning to Ireland, Nell continued her work with Cumann na mBan. She helped set up and grow new branches in Wexford. She also joined the political party, Sinn Féin.
Nell Ryan is remembered in the 77 Women commemoration quilt. This quilt was made by The Yarn Project to honour the women arrested and held in Richmond Barracks after the Rising.
The War of Independence
During the Irish War of Independence, Nell Ryan lived in Tomcoole. Her family home became a secret meeting place for the Irish Volunteers.
The Irish Civil War
After Ireland was divided, the Irish Civil War began. W. T. Cosgrave, who was the leader of the new Free State Government, saw how important Cumann na mBan women were. They helped spread information and ideas. Because of this, hundreds of them were arrested. Cosgrave said these women were "not ordinary females" because of their strong political roles.
Nell Ryan worked as a dispatch rider during the Civil War. This meant she carried important messages. She was arrested for not supporting the Anglo-Irish Treaty. She was moved from Wexford to Kilmainham Gaol. Even though her sister Min was married to Richard Mulcahy, a top general in the Free State Army, Nell did not get any special treatment. In March 1923, she and other Cumann na mBan members started a hunger strike. The Free State leaders did not want any women to die on hunger strike. So, Nell was released on April 24, after 34 days of striking.
The Civil War caused big problems for the Ryan family. Nell and some of her siblings did not support the Treaty. But her sister Min and Agnes did. Luckily, unlike some families, the Ryans were able to heal their differences later on. However, Nell's friendship with Kathleen Browne, who had been arrested with her in 1916 but later supported the Treaty, did not last through the Civil War.
Later Life and Public Service
In 1926, Nell Ryan joined Fianna Fáil when the political party was formed. She served on its national executive, which is like its main committee, representing south Wexford. She was very active in local politics. She joined the Wexford Harbour Board, the Wexford Vocational Educational Committee, and the Wexford Board of Health. As the leader of the Board of Health, she was in charge of social services and hospitals. In 1928, Nell Ryan became the first woman ever elected to the Wexford County Council. She served as a Councillor until 1954.
She also served on the council of the Uí Cinsealaigh Historical Society, a group interested in local history.
Nell Ryan passed away at the age of 78 in a nursing home in Wexford on December 8, 1959. At her funeral, members of Cumann na mBan formed a special guard of honour. Her coffin was covered with the Irish flag, the tricolour. She is buried in Glynn Cemetery.
