Helena Moloney

Who was Helena Moloney?

Helena Molony was a prominent Irish republican, feminist and labour activist. She fought in the 1916 Easter Rising and later became the second woman president of the Irish Trade Union Congress.

Helena Molony was born at 8 Coles Lane, off Henry Street in the centre of Dublin. Her father was Michael Molony, and her mother Catherine McGrath; they ran a grocery. In 1903, inspired by a pro-nationalist speech given by Maud Gonne, Helena Molony joined Inghinidhe na hÉireann and began a lifelong commitment to the republican cause. In 1908 she became the editor of the organisation's monthly newspaper, Bean na hÉireann. "Bean na hÉireann brought together a nationalist group; Constance Markiewicz designed the title page, and wrote the gardening column; John Brennan wrote for the paper and was on its production team; contributors included Eva Gore Booth, Susan Mitchell, and Katherine Tynan, as well as PH Pearse, Thomas MacDonagh, AE, Roger Casement, Arthur Griffith and James Stephens. The paper included an eclectic selection of articles – fashion notes, a labour column, cookery, politics, fiction, poetry…