Wallace sisters facts for kids
Nora Wallace (born 1893, died 1970) and Sheila Wallace (born 1887, died 1944) were two brave sisters from Cork, Ireland. They owned a newsagent shop that sold newspapers and magazines. But their shop was more than just a place to buy sweets! It was also a secret meeting spot for the IRA during the Irish War of Independence. The sisters were important intelligence officers, helping the IRA with secret information.
The Wallace Sisters' Story
Nora and Sheila Wallace were born in Cork, Ireland. They grew up in a place called Donoughmore. Later, in 1910, they moved to Cork city. They were two of ten children born to Jeremiah and Mary Wallace. Their family was Catholic and believed strongly in Irish independence.
The sisters ran a newsagent shop. They sold things like cigarettes, magazines, and newspapers. They also sold special books and papers that supported Irish independence. But behind the scenes, they were working secretly from 1916 until the end of the Irish War of Independence.
Secret Work and Important Roles
The Wallace sisters first joined the Irish Citizen Army. This was a group that worked for Irish rights. Then, they helped start a special Women's Citizen Army in Cork. Later, during the wars, both sisters became members of the Irish Republican Army. They were so important that they even received special pensions for their work as IRA officers.
Their shop was a very important secret center for the IRA. It was used for communications and planning from 1916. The sisters even carried secret messages during the Easter Rising. This was a big event where Irish people fought for their freedom. British forces eventually found out about the shop. They closed it in May 1921 and told the sisters to leave Cork.
After the War of Independence, Ireland had another conflict called the Irish Civil War. The sisters supported the side that wanted a fully independent Irish Republic.
Sheila Wallace held a very high rank for a woman in the IRA. She was a Staff Officer. The sisters were in charge of spies, making sure they had instructions and could communicate. They also worked to decode secret messages from the British Army. Nora and Sheila also acted as quartermasters. This meant they kept records of all the weapons and supplies for their IRA group.
Nora continued to work in the shop until 1960. Both sisters are buried in St. Finbarr's Cemetery in Cork. Their amazing secret activities have been shown in documentaries. These include Ordinary Women in Extraordinary Times and The Little Shop of Secrets.
