Elizabeth O’Farrell was born on November 5 1883, at Number 42 City Quay, on the banks of the River Liffey. Elizabeth’s father died while she was still young, and she was forced to find employment to support her family. Her first job was working at Armstrong’s print works on Aimen’s Street.
Elizabeth was determined to play a role in the fight for Ireland’s Freedom. In 1906, she joined Inghindhe na h-Ã?ireann, the daughters of Ireland. She took her republican activism very seriously.
At the time Indghindhe were leading a campaign to encourage citizens to
‘Buy Irish Goods’.
Elizabeth led by example and was well known for wearing Irish tweed and for refusing to wear clothes that were not made in Ireland.
Through her involvement with Inghindhe, Elizabeth met her lifelong friend Julia Grenan and the two women became inseparable.
In 1914, on the formation of Cumann na mBan, Elizabeth, Julia and their comrades from Indghindhe merged with the new organisation.
Elizabeth, who had always wanted to be a nurse, began to train in first aid under Dr Kathleen Lynn.
However, she refused to confine her service to Ireland to the role of a nurse and she also trained in the use of arms under Countess Markievicz.
In the lead up to the 1916 Rising, Elizabeth was appointed as a dispatch carrier by the Military Council. With the Rising postponed for 24 hours, the republican leadership sent Elizabeth to Athenry, County Galway, where Liam Mellows was in command, to ensure his forces were informed of the change of date.
Once back in Dublin, Elizabeth was attached to the Irish Citizen Army and served in the GPO.
One of Elizabeth’s first duties was to bring
‘War News’, an important newssheet drafted by Pádraig Pearse, to the printers.
Later in the week, Elizabeth and Julia volunteered to bring much need ammunition to the rebel force in the College of Surgeons.
Volunteering for this dangerous mission won Elizabeth and Julia the respect of their comrades.
On Easter Thursday, the Republican position in the GPO began to become untenable.
Pádraig Pearse ordered the women in the garrison to go home. Three women refused to comply with the order, Elizabeth O’Farrell, Julia Grenan and Winifred Carney.
On Friday evening, Elizabeth, Julia and Winifred, along with Pearse and Connolly, were the last to leave the GPO.
Elizabeth took part in the last stand of the republican Government in Moore Street, where she tended to the injured James Connolly.
Like her fellow rebels Elizabeth hoped the Garrision would be able to escape to the Four Courts to continue the fight. However, that wasn’t to be.
Having witnessed an innocent family being cut down by the British, Pearse gave the order to surrender. Someone now needed to approach the British lines. Remembering Elizabeth’s bravery throughout the week, Pearse immediately appointed her to the task.
Carrying a white flag, Elizabeth left Moore Terrace and walked towards the British barricades.
The British fired on her, but she continued to walk towards them. At the barricade Elizabeth defiantly told the British officers that the President of the Irish Republic would like to treat for terms.
The Rising was effectively over. In its aftermath, a photograph of Pearse’s surrender emerged as an iconic image of the Rising. Elizabeth O’Farrell is standing by his side.
Over the years, Elizabeth’s feet have been airbrushed out of the picture, masking the revolutionary role played by women in the Rising.
As we approach the centenary of the 1916 Rising it is important that women such as Elizabeth O’Farrell and her comrades are celebrated with pride.