CUMANN NA MBAN BRANCH FORMED IN NAAS

Leinster Leader 1 August 1914

IRISH NATIONAL VOLUNTEERS

IRISH WOMEN’S COUNCIL

PUBLIC MEETING IN NAAS

A BRANCH ESTABLISHED

INSPIRING ADDRESS BY MISS BLOXHAM

On Friday night last a public meeting which was largely attended was held in the Town Hall, Naas for the purpose of forming a branch of the Cumann na mBhan, or Irishwomen’s Council which was founded with the objective of assisting the Irish Volunteers. The Very Rev. Father Norris P.P., presided and was accompanied on the platform by Miss Bloxham of the Central Council, Dublin; Miss Wolfe of Forenaughts, and Miss M.T. McGrath the Hon. Secretary. The Rev Chairman in opening his address said that young girls were now getting an opportunity for learning that most essential branch of housewifery, the attending of the sick in their own homes, and that they should thank the Volunteers for actually evolving this fine idea. He dwelt on the fact that twenty years ago a class for this purpose was established in Bagnalstown and he was glad to see a revival of it today. He then introduced Miss Bloxham.

Miss Bloxham, who was very enthusiastically received, said there had never been a movement in this country for the National welfare in which women had not taken their part, and when the Irish Volunteer Movement was sweeping through the country to-day it was only natural that history should repeat itself and that women should stand by the men for what was for the good and welfare of Ireland. The woman who helped her son equip himself to do a fine deed did as fine a deed herself as any man could do. It was natural that the woman as well as the men of the country should do their duty for the country in the same spirit of patriotism. This movement was as wide as the Volunteer movement, it was open to everyone. There was only one test, did they wish to serve their country, were they Nationalist in the widest and most generous sense of the term? If so, no one would ask any question as to what particular section of politics they belonged. She thought they very often took their disagreements too seriously, in a family brothers might disagree, but when the home was threatened they closed up their ranks, their small differences were forgotten, and they stood united by the bond of the one grand idea, that of the protection of their home (applause). They should remember that the things that bound them together were stronger then the differences that tended to separate them. The positive things that they held in common were the great things that mattered, and not trivial differences. They had read of the daring deeds done by men and women in the past in the service of their country and they thought what a glorious chance they got, and they thought if they themselves had been alive then they themselves surely would have done the fine daring thing and made sacrifices and they read, with amazement and wonder of the people who had turned traitors. They could not understand why those people had not realised that that was the time of all brothers when petty things should have been left aside. Now the opportunity to do the same fine thing had come to themselves. Some people argued against a movement of this kind that there was nothing to be gained by it. Well, if anyone came into the National movement with the object of gain she hoped they would be disappointed. The record of the country showed that those who had served the National cause had not gained in the material sense, and if anyone should gain something what would it profit them if by gaining that thing they had injured their own soul and the soul of Ireland (applause). She wished to impress on them that the best thing anyone could do in this movement was to do the thing that was up to them to do. They should not imagine that they would be useless except they were able to do great things, but go on steadily doing the small things that they were able to do from day to day, and no one could tell them when the opportunity for doing the fine heroic thing would present itself (hear, hear). It was the man or woman who did the steady ordinary humdrum work in the service of their country who would be fit to do the heroic deed when the call came (applause). One of the objects of Cumann na mBhan was first aid, another was Defence of Ireland Fund, or collecting money to buy rifles to arm their men. No one wished for peace more then she did, but if they were going to be menaced they must be prepared to answer the menace, and the more prepared they were the more careful the consideration that would be given before an attack would be made on them (applause). There should be no sham about the preparation and they required only those who went to work seriously. They had heard people say they would die for their country, but what Ireland wanted was not so much the man or woman who was prepared to die for their country, but the man or woman who was prepared to live for their country (applause). Living for their country, doing their duty day in and day out, was a harder thing than dying for it (applause).

On the motion of Miss McGrath, seconded by Miss Wolfe, it was decided to establish a branch of Cumann na mBan. The following officers and committee were elected – President, Miss Wolfe; Vice-President, Mrs H. Farrell; Hon Treasurer Miss Meany; Hon. Secretary Miss MacGrath; Committee: Mrs. Coady, Mrs. McCann, Mrs. Browne, Mrs. Murphy, Mrs. Shiel, Miss Hayde, Miss Keogan, Miss Tyrrell, Miss Crawley, Miss Duke, Miss Patterson, Miss Higgins, Miss Alice McGrath, Miss Dunne. The Rev. Chairman in proposing a vote of thanks to Miss Bloxham for her beautiful and inspiring address said the Volunteer movement had put a new soul into Ireland. They had often heard the cry that Home Rule was dead. That Bishops and priests hadn’t a word to say about Home Rule, that the farmers were fixed in the soil and did not want Home Rule, but now the North, South, East and West had spoken out and said that there was no doubt about it that they did want Home Rule. For the first time he had the happiness of seeing the local Volunteers drill on Thursday night, and he was very much impressed. As Miss Bloxham had said they did not want any heroes. What they wanted was hard, persevering work. They wanted every man and woman to do their part and put their shoulder to the wheel. He expected every woman and girl in the town and district would join this Association. Miss McGrath seconded the vote of thanks, which passed with acclamation. Subsequent to the meeting a large number of ladies were enrolled as members of the Association.

Researched and re-typed by Leah Rafferty