Elizabeth O’ Farrell

Elizabeth O’Farrell was an Irish figure erased from history until recently. She was known as exceptional, a dedicated professional, brave and a political figurehead during the Irish 1916 Easter Rising.

Elizabeth was born on the 5th of November 1883 in City Quay in Dublin. Her mother was Margaret Kenneah and her father, a printer, was Christopher O’Farrell.

She was schooled on Townsend Street by the Sisters of Mercy. Her father passed away when he was very young, because of his early death O’Farrell worked from her early teens in Armstrong Printers on Amiens Street in order to support her mother and her family.

Elizabeth was fluent in Irish (Gaeilge) and joined Gaelic League. She became a member of nationalist organisations including: Inghinidhe na hÉireann (from 1906) and Cumann na mBan (from 1914).

O’Farrell and the 1916 Easter Rising

O’Farrell worked for Patrick Pearse directly and followed his direct orders to be at the heart of the Rising as message dispatcher. However, she was more than this. She travelled to Galway before the Rising, where she delivered the order that on Easter Monday, the insurrection was to happen on that very day.

During the Rising, Elizabeth and her partner, Julia Grenan cared for the wounded. The included extremely badly wounded leader, James Connolly.

Patrick Pearse himself asked Elizabeth to deliver the message of surrender to the rest of the Irish troops across the city including the Four Courts and Bolands Mill.

The Airbrushing Incident

The extremely well known photograph of the surrender originally included Elizabeth standing beside Patrick Pearse.

Unfortunately, she stepped back just as the photo was taken. This left only the hem of her skirt and her feet visible in the picture.

During other publications of the photo, O’Farrell’s skirt and feet were completely airbrushed out of the photo. This led to the belief that she was deliberately erased from the photograph and history itself.

Later Life and Legacy

After a brief spell in prison, Elizabeth was trained as a mid-wife and worked in The National Maternity Hospital (Holles Street). She worked in this role for the rest of her life.

It is recorded historically that she was very much a political activist and opposed the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty. She even remained active in republican circles by raising funds for Irish prisoners until her dying day.

For over thirty years, she and her companion and fellow revolutionary, Julia lived together. It is only in recent years that they have been recognised as romantically involved.

Elizabeth died on the 25th of June 1957 and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, and right beside her partner, Julia Grenan in the Republican grave plot.

May they Rest in Peace x