Nancy O'Rahilly

Nancy (Brown) O'Rahilly (1878 –1961) known to her family and friends as Nannie was born on 5th Avenue, Manhattan, New York City to a wealthy American industrialists family in 1878. Nancy would be better known by her married name O'Rahilly, and her part in the Irish Revolution. Her husband, The Rahilly, was one of the martyrs of Irish independence and freedom, dying as one of the leaders of the Easter Rising, the most senior casualty of a doomed episode in Ireland's violent history.

Nancy was educated in the United States, before visiting Ireland, which she liked. Then she went to a finishing school in Paris. She first met Michael Rahilly, when he was a medical student in Dublin. Known to him as Nannie, they were engaged, deciding thereafter to move to New York, her fiancé following to be near her. He sold his family business in Co Kerry, before "up sticks" to America. They were married on 15 April 1899. Rahilly worked for her father's Brown Mills Company. Their first child came soon after on 14 March 1900, named Bobby. They lived in New York until 1902, before moving back to Ireland. Bobby died in June 1903. But another son was born on 3 July 1903, Richard was always known as Mac. They lived in Paris, and then Brighton, before Egan [Irish gaelic: Aodogan] in 1904. They then moved to London. In 1905, they moved again back to New York, and closed the family business, Brown Mills, which had failed. Their fourth son, Niall was born in Philadelphia in December 1906.

They lived in New York until 1909, returned to Ireland near sisters Nell and Anna Humphreys. Rahilly assisted on Sinn Fein Daily newspapers. They joined Gaelic League and learnt to speak fluent gaelic. In November 1911, Nannie Maolmire (Myles). O'Rahilly contributed to Irish Freedom, editor of An Claidheanih Soluis, the Gaelic League paper, including the article The North Began that inspired volunteers in November 1913.

Nannie joined Cumann na mBan in 1914 elected to Executive Committee. Two oldest sons joined Fianna Eireann. Michael O'Rahilly was killed during Easter Rising. Her last child was born in July 1916.

In 1917, Nannie went to see her sisters in USA. In autumn 1917, she returned. In 1920, she joined the White Cross organization - to help the poor wherever possible; and she was drafted onto the executive committee.

She became a Vice-President of Cumann na mBan, but resigned in 1922, during the civil war, when her son was fighting for the old anti-treaty IRA. She was arrested at 40 Herbert Park, Ballsbridge, Co Dublin with her young family. She also acted on the Winding-Up Committee in 1925.

She died in 1961, and was buried in Glasnevin cemetery.

External links

• https://archive.is/20150309094405/http://dublincitypubliclibraries.com/image/wbtm-18-madame-orahilly
• http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/the-orahillys-note-26408814.html
• http://www.historyireland.com/20th-century-contemporary-history/cumann-na-mban-by-joseph-e-a-connell-jr/