Timeline of Constance's Life
Timeline of Constance's Life
Her Family
Constance de Markievicz - signed photograph
This photograph has been signed by Constance. It reads: "Constance de Markievicz ICA. TD." The ICA stands for Irish Citizen Army and the MD stands for Member of Dáil.
Constance de Markievicz - signed photograph
Constance de Markievicz - signed photograph
This photograph has been signed by Constance. It reads: "Constance de Markievicz ICA. TD." The ICA stands for Irish Citizen Army and the MD stands for Member of Dáil.
Constance was born into a wealthy Anglo Irish family in County Sligo in 1868. As she grew up, the family divided their time between their country estate in Sligo and their town houses in London and Dublin. Their house in Sligo was named Lissadell
Lissadell House
This photograph shows Lissadell House in County Sligo. It was originally the home of the Gore-Booth family. One of the most famous members of this family was the Irish revolutionary Constance Markievicz. This was where she grew up.
Copyright Sligo County Library
Her early life was typical of girls from her class and wealthy background. She was educated at home. She enjoyed painting, drawing, parties and hunting.
Growing up
Count Casimir Dunin-Markiewicz
Count Casimir Dunin-Markiewicz
Image courtesy of www.wikipedia.orgCount Casimir Dunin-Markiewicz
Image courtesy of www.wikipedia.org
Image courtesy of www.wikipedia.org
Count Casimir Dunin-Markiewicz
Count Casimir Dunin-Markiewicz
Image courtesy of www.wikipedia.org
When she was older, she studied art in London and Paris. In Paris, she met her husband, Count Markievicz. He was from a wealthy Polish family. They married in 1900. Constance Gore-Booth became Countess Markievicz. They had a child and for a time settled in Dublin, enjoying the theatre, painting and tea-parties.
Constance began to be interested in the political and social issues of this time. Dublin, in the early 1900s, was the centre for nationalist and social unrest. Constance joined the nationalist party, Sinn Fein, which fought for Irish freedom.
Her Interests
The Dublin Lock Out
A picture of the Dublin Metropolitan Police charging through the strike accompanied with batons. This is also known as 'Bloody Sunday 1913'.
Copyright RTÉ Stills LibraryThe Dublin Lock Out
Copyright RTÉ Stills Library
Copyright RTÉ Stills Library
The Dublin Lock Out
A picture of the Dublin Metropolitan Police charging through the strike accompanied with batons. This is also known as 'Bloody Sunday 1913'.
Copyright RTÉ Stills LibraryShe set up and managed a soup kitchen to support the families of workers during a general strike in 1913 - called 'the Dublin Lockout' - which was led by Jim Larkin
James Larkin (1874-1947)
He founded the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union, the Irish Labour Party, and later the Workers' Union of Ireland. He played a significant role in Ireland when fighting for employees rights and in the Dublin Lockout 1913.
Image courtesy of SIPTU.
She fought in the 1916 Rising and was sentenced to death. As a woman, her sentence was changed to life imprisonment, unlike the other leaders who were executed. In 1917, she and other 1916 prisoners were released.
British House of Commons.
In 1918, Constance Markievicz was elected to the British House of Commons. She was the first woman to be elected to parliament. As she is a nationalist, she refused to take her seat.
Image courtesy of www.wikipedia.orgBritish House of Commons.
Image courtesy of www.wikipedia.org
Image courtesy of www.wikipedia.org
British House of Commons.
In 1918, Constance Markievicz was elected to the British House of Commons. She was the first woman to be elected to parliament. As she is a nationalist, she refused to take her seat.
Image courtesy of www.wikipedia.orgIn 1918, she was elected to the House of Commons. She was the first woman to be elected to parliament. As an Irish nationalist, she refused to take her seat. Sinn Fein set up their own parliament in Dublin, called 'Dail Eireann
The First Dail
The first Dail, as it met in Dublin 1919. Included in the photograph are Michael Collins, Arthur Griffith, Eamon de Valera, W.T. Cosgrave and Richard Mulcahy.
Courtesy of Hugh Oram.
Her Career
26 counties as the Republic of Ireland.
In the map shown the counties declared as the Republic of Ireland in the treaty are all in a dark blue colour. Northern Ireland is illustrated in light blue. Do you know, or can you count how many counties are in the Republic of Ireland?
Image provided by Findmeaconference.com26 counties as the Republic of Ireland.
Image provided by Findmeaconference.com
Image provided by Findmeaconference.com
26 counties as the Republic of Ireland.
In the map shown the counties declared as the Republic of Ireland in the treaty are all in a dark blue colour. Northern Ireland is illustrated in light blue. Do you know, or can you count how many counties are in the Republic of Ireland?
Image provided by Findmeaconference.comFollowing negotiations with the Westminister government, a treaty setting up 26 counties as the Republic of Ireland was agreed. Constance supported the Republican side. In 1922, a civil war broke out between the opposing sides.
Constance held a seat in the Dail over several terms, but she never took her seat. She died in 1927 at the age of 59. Her funeral at Glasnevin Cemetry was attended by great numbers of people.