Mary Teresa Hayden (1862 – 12 July 1942) was an Irish historian, Irish-language activist and campaigner for women's causes.

Biography

Mary Hayden was educated initially at the Dominican College, Eccles Street and then at

Alexandra College Alexandra College () is an independent day and boarding school for girls in Milltown, Dublin, Ireland. The school operates under a Church of Ireland ethos. History The school was founded in 1866 and takes its name from Princess Alexandra of ...

in Dublin. She attended the

Royal University of Ireland The Royal University of Ireland was a university in Ireland that existed from 1879 to 1909. It was founded in accordance with the University Education (Ireland) Act 1879 as an examining and degree-awarding university based on the model of the ...

where she graduated with a BA (1885) and an MA (1887) in Modern Languages. With

Agnes O'Farrelly Agnes O'Farrelly (born Agnes Winifred Farrelly; 24 June 1874 – 5 November 1951) (; nom-de-plume 'Uan Uladh'), was an academic and Professor of Irish at University College Dublin (UCD).Ríona Nic Congáil, ''Úna Ní Fhaircheallaigh agus an Fhí ...

she campaigned for women's rights in the university. A campaigner for gender equality and noted as a public speaker, she was a prominent member of the Dublin Women's Suffrage Association. She was a member of the

Gaelic League (; historically known in English as the Gaelic League) is a social and cultural organisation which promotes the Irish language in Ireland and worldwide. The organisation was founded in 1893 with Douglas Hyde as its first president, when it eme ...

and friends with

Padraig Pearse Patrick Henry Pearse (also known as Pádraig or Pádraic Pearse; ; 10 November 1879 – 3 May 1916) was an Irish teacher, barrister, poet, writer, nationalist, republican political activist and revolutionary who was one of the leaders of the Ea ...

. However, she opposed violence and disapproved of the 1916

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 ...

. In 1911 she was elected to the senate of the

National University of Ireland The National University of Ireland (NUI) () is a federal university system of ''constituent universities'' (previously called '' constituent colleges'') and ''recognised colleges'' set up under the Irish Universities Act 1908, and signifi ...

and in 1915 was appointed Professor of History at

University College Dublin University College Dublin (), commonly referred to as UCD, is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland. With 38,417 students, it is Ireland's largest ...

, a position she retained until her death. One of her most famous students was Robert Dubley Edwards who was appointed as Professor of Modern Irish History in 1944, and who is widely regarded as the father of archives in Ireland. Hayden worked with Mary Gwynn to establish the Irish Catholic Women's Suffrage Association (ICWSA) in 1915. She helped to form the

Women's Social and Progressive League The Women's Social and Progressive League was a women's organisation and political party founded in Ireland in 1937 by Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington. It was committed to opposing the 1937 constitution of Ireland and any regressive consequences it wo ...

as a political party committed to opposing the 1937

Constitution of Ireland The Constitution of Ireland (, ) is the constitution, fundamental law of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It asserts the national sovereignty of the Irish people. It guarantees certain fundamental rights, along with a popularly elected non-executi ...

and any regressive consequences it would entail. She opposed articles 40, 41, and 45 concerning the status of women. A biography of Hayden ''Mary Hayden: Irish Historian and Feminist'' by Joyce Padbury was published by Arlen House in 2020.

Publications

* * ''Diaries of Mary Hayden 1878–1903'' edited by Conan Kennedy (National Library of Ireland/Morrigan, 2008) * ''The Mysterious Mary H.'' : A Selection of Writings by Mary Hayden (1862–1942) (Morrigan Books, 2008). *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hayden, Mary 1862 births 1942 deaths Alumni of the Royal University of Ireland Academics of University College Dublin 20th-century Irish historians Irish women non-fiction writers People educated at Alexandra College Irish women's rights activists Irish language activists Irish women historians Irish suffragists