Isabella Maria Jane Mulvany (4 September 1854 – 7 April 1934) was one of the '' Nine Graces'', the first nine women to graduate from University with a degree in either Great Britain or Ireland. She was a pioneer in Women's education. She was the head of Alexandra School which prepared girls for entry to Alexandra College.

Biography

Mulvany was born September 1854 on 7 Clanbrassil Terrace in

Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of th ...

to Christopher and Isabella Mulvany (née Fowler). Her father was a civil engineer for the Grand Canal Company. Mulvany was educated at home until she was fourteen when she was sent to Alexandra School where she excelled. In 1875 she became secretary to the founder and headmistress, Mrs Anne Jellicoe. In 1880 Mulvany took over as head Mistress for Alexandra school She graduated from the Royal University of Ireland with a BA in 1884. which was seven years old. The school was a prep school for Alexandra College. She continued as Head mistress of the Alexandra school. Mulvany became President of the Irish Association of Women Graduates. She wrote a paper and emphasised the importance of the Intermediate Examinations on girls education and supported girls being put forward to take this examination. In 1904

Trinity College, Dublin , name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin , motto = ''Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam'' (Latin) , motto_lang = la , motto_English = It will last i ...

awarded Honorary Degrees to three leading Irish women, Isabella Mulvany, President of the Irish Association of Women Graduates, Sophie Bryant, principal of North London Collegiate School,

Jane Barlow Jane Barlow (17 October 1856 – 17 April 1917) was an Irish people, Irish writer, noted for her novels and poems describing the lives of the Irish peasantry, chiefly about Lisconnel and Ballyhoy, in relation to both landlords and the Great Fami ...

, novelist and author of Irish Idylls.

University College Dublin University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland ...

was the last hold out to admitting Women students and Mulvany was one of those leading the movement to get this changed. She has been seen as a major influence on several of Ireland's leading feminists, revolutionaries and pioneers like

Mary Hayden Mary Teresa Hayden (1862 – 12 July 1942) was an Irish historian, Irish-language activist and campaigner for women's causes. Biography Mary Hayden was educated initially at the Dominican College, Eccles Street and then at Alexandra College in ...

Alice Oldham Alice Oldham (1850–1907) was one of the '' Nine Graces'', the first nine women to graduate from University with a degree in either Great Britain or Ireland. Oldham was a leader of the campaign for higher education of women in Ireland and in p ...

and

Kathleen Lynn Kathleen Florence Lynn (28 January 1874 – 14 September 1955) was an Irish Sinn Féin politician, activist and medical doctor. Lynn was so greatly affected by the poverty and disease among the poor in the west of Ireland that, at 16, she decid ...

. She remained the principal of Alexandra for 47 years. Trinity College awards the Isabella Mulvany scholarship, founded in 1928 by subscription, to a pupil of Alexandra College, for two years.

Biography

References

Further reading