Petticoat Rebels of 1916: Extraordinary Women in Ireland’s Struggle for Freedom

The Petticoat Rebellion was a term coined by Irish and English newspapers in the 1870s. It was a reference to the Ladies Land League which carried on the work of the Land League for a short time. The ladies went one step further than the men however. As 'movers and shakers,' they raised thousands of dollars both in Ireland and abroad, fed the hungry, found homes for evicted tenants, and provided hope to the hopeless while men fought battles over land issues through legal means. Once the men were released from prison they disbanded the Ladies Land League but women continued to play a crucial role in Irish history, as they had for thousands of years. Between the 19th and early 20th century, an interest in all things Irish filled peoples minds and hearts. Irish language, literature, history, music, sports and folklore became very popular, all things suppressed for hundreds of years by Great Britain. Patriotic women acted in plays, taught classes, and promoted Irish businesses. Again, they fed the Poor. All this interest in Irish culture re-inspired Nationalism, which was never completely forgotten but kept in secret and the women as always were in the thick of things.Women were teachers, actresses, fundraisers, nurses. They became soldiers, wrote letters, raised funds, taught first-aid, Many came from educated wealthy backgrounds giving up all the comforts of their class, the respect of their peers, and, at times, shunned by family and friends. Before the Easter Rising, women were mostly left alone by British authorities but after the Rising everything changed, including how they viewed Republican women. Faced with imprisonment, oppression, rape, and brutality women did not back down. Not ever! Ireland is a Republic today because of the brave men and women who refused to bow to a foreign power no matter what they lost. There are lots of books about male Rebels in Ireland but only a few about women. This is one of them..