Women ‘to get place in history’

A public park and a national roadway in Kerry are to be named after the paramilitary organisation Cumann na mBan in the county’s first major recognition of the role of women in the fight for independence.

The decision by Kerry County Council to recognise the women who were active during the War of Independence was described as “the start of equality of commemoration” in a county dominated by monuments to the role played by men during that era.

The new council elected in May had signalled an end to traditional ‘Civil War’ politics at its first meeting in June with a historic coming together by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to elect a Fianna Fáil chairman, John Brassil.

A ceremonial handshake took place between Patrick Connor-Scarteen (FG) and Thomas McEllistrim, (FF), grandchildren of those who fought together in the War of Independence but who took opposite sides in 1922.

Now it seems it is the women’s turn.

The council yesterday approved the “dedication of the amenity park at Cromwell’s Bridge, Kenmare, in honour of Cumann na mBan”, in a proposal brought by Mr Connor-Scarteen.

It has also decided to name the N22 bypass in Tralee, the largest roads project in Kerry in modern times, as “the Cumann na mBan Road”, after a motion by Mr Brassil, the mayor.

The road extends from the Ballyseedy Civil War atrocity monument which dominates the main entrance to the town and is the site of several Republican commemorations each year.

Professor Mary McAuliffe of University College Dublin, whose grandmother was a member of Cumann na mBan in Kerry, said the organisation of women in their teenage years and early 20s were “essential” fighters in the War of Independence.

“Without them, what happened couldn’t have happened — they were the logistical back-up for the IRA,” she said.

“It is the start of equality of commemoration,” Prof McAuliffe added, noting the contribution of women in 1912-22 had begun to be recognised with the Rosie Hackett Bridge in Dublin.