Introduction
Cumann na mBan ; literally "The Women's Council" was an Irish republican women's paramilitary organisation formed in Dublin on 2 April 1914 and in 1916 , it became an auxiliary of the Irish Volunteers. Although it was otherwise an independent organisation , its executive was subordinate to that of the Irish Volunteers, and later, the Irish Republican Army. Some members of Cumann na mBan were also members of the Citizen Army and as such were armed combatants in the Rising.
On 23 April 1916, when the Military Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood finalized arrangements for the Easter Rising, it integrated Cumann na mBan, along with the Irish Volunteers and Irish Citizen Army, into the 'Army of the Irish Republic'.
The
Cumann na mBan badge
( shown at top ) came into use in or around 1915 and most were made from
white metal,
with a number struck in silver. A few were struck in gold and these are
thought to have been for senior officers such as Constance Markievicz.
The uniform ( see above ) was a homemade green tweed worn with a Sam Browne belt and
slouch hat. Though as hostilities commenced , the uniform would be
dispensed with and civilian attire worn to avoid detection. The uniform
would on occassion be worn at guards of honour at funerals , etc. Some
women posed for photographs wearing the traditional Celtic dress and
Cumann na mBan brooch ( See Ms. Cunningham below )
The majority of the women during the Easter Rising worked as Red Cross workers, couriers or
procured rations for the men. Members also gathered intelligence on
scouting expeditions, carried dispatches and transferred arms from dumps
across the city to insurgent strongholds. Above is the flag of the
organisation , with Cumann na mBan abbreviated as Cna mB surmounted on a
rifle with a blue background.
Togher - Lehenagh Branch
Cumann na mBan as an organisation was broken down into District Councils
which comprised of several branches. Cork City District Council included the following branches: Cork , Dublin Pike , Terence McSwiney , Douglas , Shandon , Tomás Ceannt , Craobh Poblachta na hEireann , St. Finbarr’s , Thomas MacCurtain and Lehenagh. Lehenagh Branch was mostly made up
of Togher women being named after one of its Townlands. Eventually Cork City District Council would comprise almost 17 branches. Many of the women were in their teens and early 20s , and their duties included drilling , collecting funds , transporting weapons and intelligence gathering. Below are just 3 of the women from Togher who were part of the Lehenagh Branch; Mary Forde and Nan Fennell ( nee Hegartys ) from The Laurels on Pouladuff Road and Ms. Cunningham from Togher Road.
They were on active duty throughout the War of Independence and partook in arms smuggling , dispatches not only in the Cork area but further afield and assistance during raids on R.I.C. barracks. They would also offer prison relief committees when on one occasion , Mamie and Nan attended to fellow Togher man Joe Murphy during his last days , with their brother John Joe taking care of the funeral arrangements. Lehenagh branch decided to support the anti-Treaty side in the Civil War and carried on their usual tasks only this time against the Free State. Cumann an mBan were declared an illegal organisation by the government of the Irish Free State in 1923 and were officially banned by 1925.
Lehangh Branch
Members list
On 11th July 1921 , Lehenagh Branch had 14 members ( list shown above ) but by 1st July 1922 had only 2 remaining. It is thought that by 1925 its presence in Togher had completely petered out. However in the time between their formation and their eventual demise they had shown qualities of leadership , courage and bravery with many of them going on to receive pensions and combat medals.
Niall Kelleher :
