Clodagh Finn: On this 250th anniversary, think of the Quaker who crossed enemy lines to warn Washington

Lydia Darragh was a pacifist and already led a very busy life in her adopted city of Philadelphia where she worked as a well-respected midwife, wet nurse, mortician, and hat-maker

Lydia Darragh is mentioned in Philadelphia Quaker archives, and it’s clear she was deeply involved in the local area.

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026 - 01:00

Clodagh Finn

Clodagh Finn is a journalist, writer and collector of stories. Her recent book, The Irish in the Resistance, co-authored with John Morgan, shines a light on the forgotten contributions of the Irish who resisted Hitler during WW2.

Today, on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, I will be thinking of Lydia Darragh, the Irish Quaker who went through enemy lines to warn George Washington of a planned ambush by the British.

In the vast sweep of history, her brave action is an interesting but short chapter. To me, however, it is fascinating — and important — not least because it reminds us that many “ordinary” Irish people helped to win the war that gave birth to the US.