Bridget Josephine O'Mullane (4 March 1895–1969/1970) was a senior member of

Cumann na mBan Cumann na mBan (; but in English termed The Irishwomen's Council), abbreviated C na mB, is an Irish republican women's paramilitary organisation formed in Dublin on 2 April 1914, merging with and dissolving Inghinidhe na hÉireann, and in 191 ...

during the

Irish War of Independence The Irish War of Independence (), also known as the Anglo-Irish War, was a guerrilla war fought in Ireland from 1919 to 1921 between the Irish Republican Army (1919–1922), Irish Republican Army (IRA, the army of the Irish Republic) and Unite ...

, where she was a recruiting officer. During the

Irish Civil War The Irish Civil War (; 28 June 1922 – 24 May 1923) was a conflict that followed the Irish War of Independence and accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State, an entity independent from the United Kingdom but within the British Emp ...

, she was director of publicity and propaganda.

Biography

O'Mullane was born on 4 March 1895 in

Sligo Sligo ( ; , meaning 'abounding in shells') is a coastal seaport and the county town of County Sligo, Ireland, within the western province of Connacht. With a population of 20,608 in 2022, it is the county's largest urban centre (constituting 2 ...

to Bridget ( McCaffery) and James Mullane. Her father was a Royal Irish constable, while her mother ran a drapery shop in the town.

Count Plunkett Count George Noble Plunkett (3 December 1851 – 12 March 1948) was an Irish nationalist politician, museum director and biographer, who served as Minister for Fine Arts from 1921 to 1922, Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1919 to 1921 and Cean ...

was visiting the town of Sligo in 1917 following his victory as

Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( ; ; ) is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The History of Sinn Féin, original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffit ...

MP in the North Roscommon by-election and stayed with the Mullane family on Grattan Street. Countess Plunkett told O'Mullane about Cumann na mBan and how they were recruiting and needed a branch in Sligo. By 1918 O'Mullane was a member of the Executive of Cumann na mBan. She had founded branches in County Sligo and went on to work all over the country. During the Irish War of Independence O'Mullane moved around Ireland establishing and maintaining lines of communication between Dublin and

Irish Republican Army The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is a name used by various Resistance movement, resistance organisations in Ireland throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Organisations by this name have been dominantly Catholic and dedicated to anti-imperiali ...

units throughout Ireland. O'Mullane was responsible for maintaining communications with units in Counties Down,

Derry Derry, officially Londonderry, is the second-largest City status in the United Kingdom, city in Northern Ireland, and the fifth-largest on the island of Ireland. Located in County Londonderry, the city now covers both banks of the River Fo ...

Kildare Kildare () is a town in County Kildare, Ireland. , its population was 10,302, making it the 7th largest town in County Kildare. It is home to Kildare Cathedral, historically the site of an important abbey said to have been founded by Saint ...

Louth Louth may refer to: Australia *Hundred of Louth, a cadastral unit in South Australia * Louth, New South Wales, a town * Louth Bay, a bay in South Australia ** Louth Bay, South Australia, a town and locality Canada * Louth, Ontario Ireland * Cou ...

Meath County Meath ( ; or simply , ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. It is bordered by County Dublin to the southeast, County ...

and

Westmeath County Westmeath (; or simply ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It formed part of the historic Kingdom of ...

. She was arrested on 3 November 1918 for selling flags without a permit, to raise funds for the organisation. She was also arrested when she was visiting her father in prison, for carrying seditious literature and later during the civil war, acting on the Anti-Treaty side O'Mullane was arrested and imprisoned in

Kilmainham Gaol Kilmainham Gaol () is a former prison in Kilmainham, Dublin. It is now a museum run by the Office of Public Works, an agency of the Government of Ireland. Many Irish revolutionaries, including the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising (Patrick Pea ...

. Her cell was left decorated with graffiti, slogans and drawings that are still visible. She went on to be appointed Director of Publicity and Propaganda during the

. During her time as a political prisoner in

, O'Mullane was appointed

Officer Commanding The commanding officer (CO) or commander, or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually giv ...

of the prisons A Wing. She conducted negotiations with the prison commander on their behalf. She was also reportedly assaulted by the police while in custody. After the war, O'Mullane was a member of the Friends of Soviet Russia and took part in various conferences between workers. She died at age 74 and is buried in the Republican Plot in

Glasnevin Cemetery Glasnevin Cemetery () is a large cemetery in Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland which opened in 1832. It holds the graves and memorials of several notable figures, and has a museum. Location The cemetery is located in Glasnevin, Dublin, in two part ...

Sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:O'Mullane, Bridie 1895 births People from County Sligo Bridie O'Mullane Irish feminists Irish republicans Irish women's rights activists Women in war in Ireland Date of death unknown