Elizabeth O'Farrell (; 5 November 1883 – 25 June 1957) was an Irish nurse, republican and member of , best known for delivering the surrender in the

Easter Rising The Easter Rising (), also known as the Easter Rebellion, was an armed insurrection in Ireland during Easter Week in April 1916. The Rising was launched by Irish republicans against British rule in Ireland with the aim of establishing an ind ...

of 1916.

Early life

Elizabeth O'Farrell was born on 5 November 1883 in City Quay Dublin, she was the daughter of Christopher O'Farrell, who worked at Armstrong's printers and Margaret Kenneah, a housekeeper. She was educated by the Sisters of Mercy. Her father died when she was young and she was sent to work. She took a job in Armstrong's, a printers in Amiens Street. Her mother had a small shop on the City Quay Dublin. She was a member of the

Sacred Heart The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus () is one of the most widely practised and well-known Catholic devotions, wherein the heart of Jesus Christ is viewed as a symbol of "God's boundless and passionate love for mankind". This devotion to Christ is p ...

and Total Abstinence sodalities. After her education, she became a midwife and joined the national maternity hospital Holles Street after her involvement in the 1916 Easter Rising. She was a part of the Gaelic League and became fluent in Irish. In 1906 she joined alongside lifelong friend - and most likely lover and romantic partner - Julia Grenan. She also then joined , the women's branch of the

Irish Volunteers The Irish Volunteers (), also known as the Irish Volunteer Force or the Irish Volunteer Army, was a paramilitary organisation established in 1913 by nationalists and republicans in Ireland. It was ostensibly formed in response to the format ...

after its establishment in 1914.

Easter Rising

O'Farrell acted as a dispatcher before and during the

of 1916. She was sent to Athenry to deliver a despatch on Easter Monday. On her return, she reported with her lifelong friend and fellow nurse, Julia Grenan, at the GPO. They were sent around the bullet-torn streets of Dublin during the week with despatches, food and ammunition hidden in their long skirts to stations at Boland's Mill, Powers' Distillery, Jacobs' Factory, St. Stephen's Green and the Four Courts. With Grenan, she also cared for the wounded, including

James Connolly James Connolly (; 5 June 1868 – 12 May 1916) was a Scottish people, Scottish-born Irish republicanism, Irish republican, socialist, and trade union leader, executed for his part in the Easter Rising, 1916 Easter Rising against British rule i ...

. Women and wounded were evacuated from the GPO on the Friday of Easter Week, but O'Farrell, Grenan and

Winifred Carney Maria Winifred "Winnie" Carney (4 December 1887 – 21 November 1943), was an Irish republicanism, Irish republican, a participant in the Easter Rising, 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin, and in Belfast—as a trade union secretary, women's s ...

stayed behind with the remainder of the troops, who retreated to a nearby house in

Moore Street Moore Street (; ) is a street in central Dublin, Ireland, off Henry Street (Dublin), Henry Street, one of Ireland's main shopping streets. The famous Moore Street open-air fruit and vegetable market is Dublin's oldest food market. The market t ...

. On Saturday,

Patrick Pearse Patrick Henry Pearse (also known as Pádraig or Pádraic Pearse; ; 10 November 1879 – 3 May 1916) was an Irish teacher, barrister, Irish poetry, poet, writer, Irish nationalism, nationalist, Irish republicanism, republican political activist a ...

chose Elizabeth O'Farrell to seek surrender terms from Brigadier-General Lowe. At 12.45 pm she was handed a Red Cross insignia and a white flag and asked to deliver the surrender to the British military. She emerged into heavy fire on Moore Street which abated when her white flag was recognised. She was taken to Brigadier General William Lowe who sent her back to Pearse at number 16 Moore Street with a demand for unconditional surrender. Pearse agreed and, accompanied by O'Farrell, surrendered in person to General Lowe. A well-known photograph shows Pearse facing General Lowe at the top of Moore Street. Just before the photograph was taken, O'Farrell stepped back. In the original photograph, her feet are visible next to Pearse. This photograph was published 10 days later in the

Daily Sketch The ''Daily Sketch'' was a British national tabloid newspaper, founded in Manchester in 1909 by Sir Edward Hulton, 1st Baronet. The ''Sketch'' was Conservative in its politics and populist in its tone during its existence through all its ch ...

newspaper. In subsequent reproductions, her feet were airbrushed out. This has led some modern commentators to claim that she was "airbrushed from history". In fact, O'Farrell's role in the surrender was covered in detail in books published throughout the 20th century, such as

Dorothy Macardle Dorothy Macardle (7 March 1889 in Dundalk – 23 December 1958 in Drogheda)Luke Gibbons, ''The Irish Times'', Weekend Review, "A Cosmopolitan Reclaimed: A Review of ''Dorothy Macardle: A Life''", by Nadia Clare Smith, 10 November 2007, p.13 was ...

's ''

The Irish Republic The Irish Republic ( or ) was a revolutionary state that declared its independence from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in January 1919. The Republic claimed jurisdiction over the whole island of Ireland, but by 1920 its fun ...

'' (1937), Max Caulfield's ''The Easter Rebellion'' (1963) and Foy and Barton's ''The Easter Rising'' (1999).

Aftermath

Accompanied by a priest and three soldiers, O'Farrell brought the order to surrender, signed by Pearse, to the Volunteer and Citizen Army units at the

Four Courts The Four Courts () is Ireland's most prominent courts building, located on Inns Quay in Dublin. The Four Courts is the principal seat of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the High Court and the Dublin Circuit Court. Until 2010 the build ...

, the

College of Surgeons The Royal College of Surgeons is an ancient college (a form of corporation) established in England to regulate the activity of surgeons. Derivative organisations survive in many present and former members of the Commonwealth. These organisations ...

Boland's Mill Boland's Mills is a mixed-use development in Dublin, Ireland, on Ringsend Road between the inner basin of Grand Canal Dock and Barrow Street. The site includes several 19th century warehouses originally associated with Boland's Bakery. After ce ...

and Jacob's factory. Lowe gave her his word that she would not be held as a prisoner after delivering these orders. O'Farrell was then taken to the

Dublin Castle Dublin Castle () is a major Government of Ireland, Irish government complex, conference centre, and tourist attraction. It is located off Dame Street in central Dublin. It is a former motte-and-bailey castle and was chosen for its position at ...

hospital where she was stripped of her clothing and possessions and stayed for one night. The following day she was taken to Ship Street barracks, and informed that she was to be sent to Kilmainham jail and held as a prisoner. O'Farrell and some other prisoners were escorted to Richmond Barracks. It was then that O'Farrell noticed Fr. Columbus of Church Street, who had accompanied her to the Four Courts on the evening of 29 April. He told her he would let General Lowe know of her situation. After being sent to Kilmainham jail she was later released. General Lowe sent a car for O'Farrell to be taken to

where she was to meet him. General Lowe apologised for her detainment and provided her with a letter in case of any further trouble with the military.

Life after The Rising

O'Farrell spent the rest of her life working as a midwife and nurse in the

National Maternity Hospital, Dublin The National Maternity Hospital (), popularly known as Holles Street Hospital, is a large maternity hospital in Ireland. It is at the eastern corner of Merrion Square, at its junction with Holles Street and Mount Street Lower, Lower Mount Street i ...

. When the Irish Government allowed the Bureau of Military History to begin collecting oral history of the Irish Revolutionary period for historical purposes, O'Farrell refused to participate, declaring, "All governments since 1921 have betrayed the

Republic A republic, based on the Latin phrase ''res publica'' ('public affair' or 'people's affair'), is a State (polity), state in which Power (social and political), political power rests with the public (people), typically through their Representat ...

." In the fifties she made speeches on behalf of the republican movement and raised funds for republican prisoners. Elizabeth died on 25 June 1957 while on holiday in Fatima House in

Bray Bray may refer to: Places France * Bray, Eure, in the Eure ''département'' * Bray, Saône-et-Loire, in the Saône-et-Loire ''département'' * Bray-Dunes, in the Nord ''département'' * Bray-en-Val, in the Loiret ''département'' * Bray-et-Lû ...

County Wicklow County Wicklow ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The last of the traditional 32 counties, having been formed as late as 1606 in Ireland, 1606, it is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the Provinces ...

, and she is buried in the

Glasnevin Cemetery Glasnevin Cemetery () is a large cemetery in Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland which opened in 1832. It holds the graves and memorials of several notable figures, and has a museum. Location The cemetery is located in Glasnevin, Dublin, in two part ...

next to Julia Grenan in the republican plot. That Elizabeth and Julia were romantic partners is now widely considered to be the case. The significant closeness they displayed, the fact they lived together for 30 years, the fact that neither was ever married to a man and the fact they were buried beside each other are all considered indicators of a more intimate relationship than publicly stated. Similarly, their comrades in the 1916 Rising, Kathleen Lynn and

Madeleine ffrench-Mullen Madeleine ffrench-Mullen (30 December 1880 – 26 May 1944) was an Irish revolutionary and labour activist who took part in the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916. Ffrench-Mullen was a member of the radical nationalist women's organisation . In 19 ...

, are also considered to be another "unstated" couple, as were

Margaret Skinnider Margaret Frances Skinnider (28 May 1892 – 10 October 1971) was a revolutionary and feminist born in Coatbridge, Scotland. She fought during the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin as a sniper, among other roles, and was the only woman wounded in th ...

and Nora O'Keeffe, all of whom were featured, along with

Eva Gore-Booth Eva Selina Laura Gore-Booth (22 May 1870 – 30 June 1926) was an Irish poet, theologian, and dramatist, and a committed suffragist, social worker and labour activist. She was born at Lissadell House, County Sligo, the younger sister of Co ...

and others, in a 2023

TG4 TG4 (; , ) is an Irish free-to-air public service television channel. It launched on 31 October 1996 and is available online and through its on-demand service TG4 Player in Ireland and beyond. TG4 was initially known as (TnaG), before bein ...

documentary about "the radical queer women at the very heart of the Irish Revolution": (''Radical Hearts'').

Commemorations

After her death, the Nurse Elizabeth O'Farrell Foundation was established in 1967 to help support nursing postgraduate studies. A memorial plaque was also unveiled in Holles Street Hospital where she trained as a midwife from 1920 to 1921.Brosnan, M. (n.d.
Elizabeth O'Farrell
, The National Maternity Hospital. Retrieved 2 February 2018. Every year, the hospital awards a student the 'Elizabeth O'Farrell' commemorative award, which is a silver medal awarded to a student midwife who exceeds academically in their final exams for qualification as a midwife. In 2003 another plaque was unveiled in City Quay park commemorating her. O'Farrell was born close by to this area. In 2012, what was originally the City Quay park, is now known as the Elizabeth O'Farrell Park on Sir John Rogersons Quay, Dublin. In 2016,

RTÉ (; ; RTÉThe É in RTÉ is pronounced as an English E () and not an Irish É ()) is an Irish public service broadcaster. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on television, radio and online. The radio service began on 1 January 1926, ...

aired a television series giving insight into the Rising for its 100-year anniversary. The series, by RTÉ's unit – called (English: 'Revolution') – aired four episodes with the final one commemorating Nurse O'Farrell. Episode 4 – 'Famous and Invisible' tells the story of O'Farrell's role in the surrender and looks at how she was allegedly airbrushed out from the original image of the surrender. The episode looks at lesser known characters of 1916, including Elizabeth O'Farrell.

Bibliography

* Hogan, M (2004). Elizabeth O'Farrell and surrender, 1916. Discovering Women in Irish History. Retrieved 21 November 2016, from
3.1.8 Elizabeth O'Farrell and surrender, 1916
* Brosnan, M. (n.d.

, The National Maternity Hospital. Retrieved 2 February 2018. * Ni Cheallaigh, L. (Producer & Director) (2016). Réabhlóid. (Motion Picture). Ireland. RTÉ. * Central Statistics Office. (n.d.
Elizabeth O'Farrell. Census and Women of the Rising
Ireland. CSO. Retrieved 21 November 2016 * Author Unknown. (28 August 2012). City Quay Park now known as Elizabeth O'Farrell Park on Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin. Irish Volunteers. Retrieved 20 November 2016 fro
City Quay Park now known as Elizabeth O'Farrell Park on Sir John Rogersons Quay, Dublin.
* Barry, M. (10 March 2016). Airbrushed from history? Elizabeth O'Farrell and Patrick Pearse's surrender, 1916. The Irish History. Retrieved 10 November 2016 fro
Airbrushed out of history? Elizabeth O’Farrell and Patrick Pearse’s surrender, 1916.
* Granville, D. (2004). Irish Democrat Archive : Features : The Irish Revolutionary Women of Cumann na mBan. Archive.irishdemocrat.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2016, fro
The Irish Revolutionary Women of Cumann na mBan
* Story of the surrender. (2011, April ). Retrieved 23 November 2016, fro
1916 Rebellion Museum , Story of the Surrender

Writings

* O'Farrell, Elizabeth, 'Events of Easter Week', ''The Catholic Bulletin'' 1917. * O'Farrell, Elizabeth & Grenan, Julia, 1972, Memorial Card, Kilmainham Collection (KGC).

Primary sources

* Doherty, Shuna,'Elizabeth O'Farrell and the Women of 1906', Unpublished MA thesis presented to The National Library of Ireland (NLI 1995) * Henderson, Fr Enna, Cistercian Abbey Roscrea, Testimony, 1997, Kilmainham Gaol Collection (KGC) * Interview with Tove O'Flanagan and Jill Andrews of the National Maternity Hospital 2003.

Secondary sources

* McCoole, Sinead, ''No Ordinary Women: Irish Female Activists in the Revolutionary Years 1900–1923'' (Dublin 2003).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:O'Farrell, Elizabeth 1884 births 1957 deaths Burials at Glasnevin Cemetery Cumann na mBan members Irish nurses Irish republicans Irish lesbians People of the Easter Rising 19th-century Irish LGBTQ people 20th-century Irish LGBTQ people Health professionals from Dublin (city)