Women of the Revoltion in South-east Limerick 1914-1923

Stories of 17 women from their Military Service Pension files

The collection of stories in this book recounts the story of Ireland's revolutionary era from the perspective of 17 ordinary women in rural Ireland who participated in the campaign for independence. The majority of the women were members of Cumann na mBan and all were associated with the East Limerick Brigade of Volunteers. The stories include that of  CountyTipperary-born Nurse Babs O'Sullivan who volunteered her professional services to the East Limerick Flying Column.  The daring escape made by Post Office clerk May Bourke and three female companions from Mountjoy Jail in 1921 is the subject of another story.  Other women from the area were involved in dispatch-carrying, intelligence-gathering, scouting, shielding, guiding, transporting arms and ammunition, caring for the wounded, providing food and accommodation. Raids, harassment, loss of employment, imprisonment and hunger strike all feature among the experiences of the women in the stories.