Muriel MacSwiney

Muriel MacSwiney: Catapulted into the spotlight when she visited Terence in prison in London during his hunger strike. When he subsequently died from the hunger strike she received some 200 telegrams of condolence.

Born into the extremely wealthy Murphy distillery family, Muriel MacSwiney is best known as the widow of Cork Lord Mayor Terence MacSwiney.

His 74-day hunger strike and death in a London prison captured the international press and public’s attention in autumn 1920. With Terence’s commitment to his ideals visible on a world stage, Muriel was catapulted into the spotlight too, often photographed or reported on as she visited the prison.