Cumann na nGaedheal Cumann na nGaedheal (; ) was a political party in the Irish Free State, which formed the government from 1923 to 1932. It was named after the original Cumann na nGaedheal organisation which merged with the Dungannon Clubs and the National Co ...

Fine Gael Fine Gael ( ; ; ) is a centre-right, liberal-conservative, Christian democratic political party in Ireland. Fine Gael is currently the third-largest party in the Republic of Ireland in terms of members of Dáil Éireann. The party had a member ...

Eoin O'Duffy Eoin O'Duffy (born Owen Duffy; 28 January 1890 – 30 November 1944) was an Irish revolutionary, soldier, police commissioner, politician and fascist. O'Duffy was the leader of the Monaghan Brigade of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and a promin ...

Blueshirts The Army Comrades Association (ACA), later the National Guard, Young Ireland and finally League of Youth, known by the nickname the Blueshirts (), was a paramilitary organisation in the Irish Free State, founded in 1932.New Irish Army Arises, Ne ...

Curragh The Curragh ( ; ) is a flat open plain in County Kildare, Ireland. This area is well known for horse breeding and training. The Irish National Stud is on the edge of Kildare town, beside the Japanese Gardens. Pollardstown Fen, the larges ...

County Kildare County Kildare () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the Local gove ...

Waterford City Waterford ( ) is a city in County Waterford in the south-east of Ireland. It is located within the province of Munster. The city is situated at the head of Waterford Harbour. It is the oldestWilliam Redmond on 18 November 1930. The only son of one of the most well-known politicians in Ireland in that era,

John Redmond John Edward Redmond (1 September 1856 – 6 March 1918) was an Irish nationalism, Irish nationalist politician, barrister, and Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. He was best known as leader ...

, William was introduced to Bridget by mutual friends. Despite an eighteen-year age gap between the two, she was reportedly devoted to William. William, who had served with the

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, successfully followed his recently deceased father into politics immediately afterwards. She would always accompany William during his elections and his constituency work, unknowingly acquiring knowledge she'd soon need.

Political career

Less than two years into their marriage, William died suddenly on 17 April 1932. When William entered politics, his supporters (particularly in Waterford City), looked to him to carry forward the legacy of his father. William had largely succeeded in this, for example in the

1918 Irish general election The Irish component of the 1918 United Kingdom general election took place on 14 December 1918. It was the final United Kingdom general election to be held throughout Ireland, as the next election would happen following Irish independence. It is ...

William was one of only two candidates for the

Irish Parliamentary Party The Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP; commonly called the Irish Party or the Home Rule Party) was formed in 1874 by Isaac Butt, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nati ...

to win a seat in the south of Ireland amidst the tidal wave surge of

Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( ; ; ) is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The History of Sinn Féin, original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffit ...

. From the Redmondite base in Waterford City, William kept the thread of the Irish Parliamentary Party alive via the

National League Party The National League was a political party in Ireland. It was founded in 1926 by William Redmond and Thomas O'Donnell in support of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, a close relationship with the United Kingdom, continued membership of the British ...

during the 1920s. However, that party was disbanded in the late 1920s and from there, William joined

Cumann na nGaedheal Cumann na nGaedheal (; ) was a political party in the Irish Free State, which formed the government from 1923 to 1932. It was named after the original Cumann na nGaedheal organisation which merged with the Dungannon Clubs and the National Co ...

in 1931. Following William's death, Cumann na nGaedheal were anxious to retain the newly acquired Redmond legacy and the deep-rooted support it retained. The party turned to Bridget and asked her to stand in the 1933 general election (As a general election was already approaching, a by-election was not called). To the surprise of those around her, she agreed. Once again confirming the power of the Redmond name in Waterford City, she was elected to

Dáil Éireann Dáil Éireann ( ; , ) is the lower house and principal chamber of the Oireachtas, which also includes the president of Ireland and a senate called Seanad Éireann.Article 15.1.2° of the Constitution of Ireland reads: "The Oireachtas shall co ...

as a Cumann na nGaedheal

Teachta Dála A Teachta Dála ( ; ; plural ), abbreviated as TD (plural ''TDanna'' in Irish language, Irish, TDs in English), is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas, the parliament of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The official Engli ...

(TD) for the

Waterford Waterford ( ) is a City status in Ireland, city in County Waterford in the South-East Region, Ireland, south-east of Ireland. It is located within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster. The city is situated at the head of Waterford H ...

constituency at the 1933 general election. It would be the beginning of a 20-year career in the Dáil as she was re-elected at every subsequent election until her death in 1952. Over the course of her career, she would increase her share of the vote in every single election she fought. Despite being thrown into politics on a mandate of continuing the moderate politics associated with John and William Redmond, she instead threw herself into the radical right-wing politics of

Eoin O'Duffy Eoin O'Duffy (born Owen Duffy; 28 January 1890 – 30 November 1944) was an Irish revolutionary, soldier, police commissioner, politician and fascist. O'Duffy was the leader of the Monaghan Brigade of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and a promin ...

and the

Blueshirts The Army Comrades Association (ACA), later the National Guard, Young Ireland and finally League of Youth, known by the nickname the Blueshirts (), was a paramilitary organisation in the Irish Free State, founded in 1932.New Irish Army Arises, Ne ...

, who at that moment in time were fighting on behalf of Cumann na nGaedheal in a proxy battle with the

Irish Republican Army The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is a name used by various Resistance movement, resistance organisations in Ireland throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Organisations by this name have been dominantly Catholic and dedicated to anti-imperiali ...

, themselves fighting on behalf of

Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil ( ; ; meaning "Soldiers of Destiny" or "Warriors of Fál"), officially Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party (), is a centre to centre-right political party in Ireland. Founded as a republican party in 1926 by Éamon de ...

. The Blueshirts, Cumann na nGaedhael and the National Centre Party would merge together in 1933 to form

Fine Gael Fine Gael ( ; ; ) is a centre-right, liberal-conservative, Christian democratic political party in Ireland. Fine Gael is currently the third-largest party in the Republic of Ireland in terms of members of Dáil Éireann. The party had a member ...

. In 1933 Redmond publicly expressed the view that a thirty-two-county republic was impossible, and accused the Government of driving the two sections of Ireland further apart. Redmond declared that she would never stand for a twenty-six county republic as there were as many men in the North who were just as good nationalists as those in the south and they should not be ignored. She also chastised

Éamon de Valera Éamon de Valera (; ; first registered as George de Valero; changed some time before 1901 to Edward de Valera; 14 October 1882 – 29 August 1975) was an American-born Irish statesman and political leader. He served as the 3rd President of Ire ...

for his tolerance of the actions of the IRA.

Irish Independent The ''Irish Independent'' is an Irish daily newspaper A newspaper is a Periodical literature, periodical publication containing written News, information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray backgrou ...

26, 27 June 1933 Over the course of her career in the Dáil, Redmond was most active when commentating on legislation affecting housing and social conditions. Other areas she was involved with were education, the place of women in the 1937 constitution and on the declaration of an Irish republic in 1948. Redmond died on 3 May 1952 at her mother's residence in Athgarvan, near Newbridge,

County Kildare County Kildare () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the Local gove ...

. She was 47 at the time and had been ill for a number of weeks. Her death brought an end to sixty-one years of parliamentary representation in Waterford by the Redmond family.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Redmond, Bridget 1904 births 1952 deaths 20th-century women Teachtaí Dála Cumann na nGaedheal TDs Fine Gael TDs Members of the 10th Dáil Members of the 11th Dáil Members of the 12th Dáil Members of the 13th Dáil Members of the 14th Dáil Members of the 8th Dáil Members of the 9th Dáil Members of the Blueshirts Politicians from County Waterford

Bridget Bridget is an Irish language, Irish female name derived from the Goidelic languages, Gaelic noun , meaning "power, strength, vigor, virtue". An alternative meaning of the name is "exalted one". Its popularity, especially in Ireland, is largely re ...

Spouses of Irish politicians

Early life

Political career

See also

References