Kathleen Browne

Who was Kathleen Browne?

Kathleen Anne Browne was an Irish politician, farmer, writer, historian and archaeologist.

She joined Sinn Féin in 1912 and the Irish Volunteers in 1914 and flew a tricolour from her family home, Rathronan Castle, during the Easter Rising. She was arrested and imprisoned in Kilmainham and Mountjoy prisons. She took the pro-treaty side during the civil war, joining Cumann na nGaedheal.

She was elected to Seanad Éireann of the Irish Free State as a Cumann na nGaedheal member, at a by-election on 20 June 1929. The by-election was caused by the death of Alice Stopford Green. She was re-elected for 3 years in 1931 and was re-elected for 9 years in 1934. She joined the Army Comrades Association in 1933. She served until 29 May 1936 when the Free State Seanad was abolished.