Ireland's OWN: Women Freedom Fighters

Helena Moloney*
(1884-1967)

Helena Moloney was born in Dublin in 1884. While only a teenager, Moloney heard Maud Gonne give a Inspired by Gonne, Helena Moloney began a lifelong commitment to republicanism. pro-nationalist speech near the Customs House. Inspired by Gonne, Helena began a lifelong commitment to republicanism.

Moloney joined Inghinidhe na hÉireann (Daughters of Ireland) in 1903 and five years later was named editor of Bean na hÉireann (Women of Ireland), a republican, as well as feminist, monthly founded by Moloney's role model, Maud Gonne. Helena began an acting career at this time as well, joining the Abbey Theater, but her commitment to political and then labour activism would eventually end her acting.

During this time Helena also became more active in the Irish labor movement, where she worked closely with James Connolly and Countess Markievicz. She was jailed in 1911 for throwing stones during the protest of a royal visit, making her the first woman jailed in the cause of Irish freedom since the days of the Ladies Land League some three decades earlier.

Connolly made her secretary of the Irish Women Workers' Union in November 1915. Moloney also took an active role with Connolly's Citizen's Army during the 1916 Easter Rising. She took part in the attack on Dublin Castle, where her commanding officer, Sean Connolly, was killed. She was arrested and held until December of that year.

Moloney opposed the treaty and supported the republican side during the Civil War. She continued to work for labour causes after the Civil War and was the first woman to become president of the Irish Trade Union Congress. She did not abandon the republican cause, however. She was active with the Women's Prisoner's Defense League and the People's Rights Association during the 1930s.

Moloney continued to work for the causes she believed in until illness forced her to retire from public life in 1946.

On January 28, 1967, Helena Moloney, republican and trade unionist, died in Dublin

*Source: George Treanor, Irish Heritage Group

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