Courageous women of 1916 Rising and War of Independence
By Brendan Grehan
A TALLAGHT family has celebrated their antecedents’ roles in the Easter Rising, the War of Independence and beyond.
Trish Murtagh’s grand-uncle Thomas Merrigan was a runner during 1916 and his sister Ellen Merrigan was in Cumann Na mBan. Their sister Lizzie Merrigan was a member of Clan Na Gael. Their half-sister, Trish’s grandmother Susan Ryan, was also in Cumann Na Mban.
Trish Murtagh’s daughter Zoe (12) delved into her family’s proud history as part of a project for Proclamation Day in her school, St Martin De Porres National School.
The Merrigans all lived in Church Street, just off the quays.
In her project, Zoe told the story of Thomas who was just 15 at the time of the Rising and served as a runner for the rebels between the GPO and Father Mathew Hall on Church Street. He lost one of his middle fingers during that period.
Ellen Merrigan, who was 18 in 1916 and Susan Ryan who was 32 ,were both involved in Cumann Na Mban. Lizzie was 14 at the time of the Rising and she later joined Cumann Na Mban.
All were involved in the War of Independence and during the Civil War they were on the Anti-Treaty side.
The family donated Ellen’s Cumann Na Mban uniform and autograph book to Kilmainham Gaol where they are on display. Trish still has Ellen’s service medal from Cumann Na mBan and she brought it down to the school for the proclamation ceremony.
