Nell Ryan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
5 July 1881
- James Ryan (brother)
- Josephine Ryan (sister)
- Mary Kate Ryan (sister)
- Agnes McCullough (sister)
- Phyllis Ryan (sister)
Nell Ryan | |
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![](#/media/File:Ellen_"Nell"_Ryan.png) | |
| Born | Ellen Ryan 5 July 1881 Tomcoole, Wexford, Ireland |
| Died | 8 December 1959 (aged 78) Wexford, Ireland |
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Ellen Ryan (5 July 1881 – 8 December 1959) was an Irish nationalist, Cumann na mBan organiser and County Councillor. She was a member of the republican Ryan family of Tomcoole. Despite not being involved in the 1916 Rising, she was arrested and imprisoned. On release she joined Sinn Féin and was a regional organiser for Cumann na mBan in Wexford.[1] She was arrested for anti-Treaty activity during the Civil War and went on hunger strike with other female prisoners.[2] She was the first woman elected to Wexford County Council.[3]
Ellen "Nell" Ryan was born on 5 July 1881 in Tomcoole, County Wexford to John and Eliza (née Sutton) Ryan.[4] She was one of twelve siblings, all of whom received secondary school education and nine went on to university. Nell was educated as a boarder at Loreto College, Dublin.[4] She became a teacher and taught in San Sebastián, Spain and Fulda, Germany for some years before returning to Ireland.[5]
Ryan and her family "played an important role in revolutionary politics and helped shape the new Free State."[6] Her sister Josephine was a founding member and secretary of Cumann na mBan and her sisters Phyllis, Mary Kate and Agnes were also members. Their brother James joined the Irish Volunteers.[1] He later became a politician, serving as a Minister in successive Fianna Fáil governments, and was later elected to Seanad Éireann. He married Máirín Cregan, a member of Cumann na mBan. Josephine married Richard Mulcahy, commander in chief of the Irish Republican Army and later a Minister in the Fine Gael government. Agnes married Denis McCullough, president of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Kit married Seán T. O'Kelly, future President of Ireland, who went on to marry Phyllis after Mary Kate's death at 55.[6] Ryan was a "friend and confidant of practically every leader in the Republican movement."[7]
1916 Rising
Ryan joined Cumann na mBan in 1914 and was a regional organiser in Wexford. She was in Wexford when the Easter Rising began.[4] Her siblings Min, Phyllis and Jim were stationed at the GPO in Dublin. Despite not being involved herself, Nell was arrested in Enniscorthy along with other Cumann na mBan members after the Rising. She was held initially in Waterford Barracks with Kathleen Browne and subsequently moved to Richmond Barracks in Dublin.[8][4]
Ryan was one of the few women who were subsequently deported to Lewes Prison, England, along with Winifred Carney, Helena Molony, Marie Perotz-Flanagan, Bríd Foley and Countess Markievicz.[4] She was one of the longest serving prisoners and was eventually released on 13 October 1916.[5] A later profile of her suggests that "her character with Dublin Castle even then, must not have been good".[9] On her return to Ireland, Ryan resumed her activities with Cumann na mBan, where she reorganised and expanded branches in Wexford.[4] She also joined Sinn Féin.[1]
Ryan is commemorated in the 77 Women commemoration quilt created by The Yarn Project in honour of the women arrested and held in Richmond Barracks after the Rising.[10]
War of Independence
Ryan was living in Tomcoole during the War of Independence and the family home became a headquarters for the Irish Volunteers.[4]