Kathleen Clarke

On this day in 1972 Kathleen Clarke, former TD, Lord Mayor of Dublin and wife of Thomas Clarke, leader of the 1916 Rising, died. Clarke played an active role in the revolutionary period, including in Cumann na MBan and during the Civil War. Imprisoned after the Rising, she was released to see her husband Tom before his execution on 3 May and her brother Ned Daly who was executed on 4 May.

In later years she spoke in favour of womens rights and was said to have ahead of her time in the regard. The following report from the Irish Examiner in 1972 reflected the times, with the headline reading ‘Tom Clarke’s widow dies’. The report noted how:

The Taoiseacg has expressed sympathy on the death of Mrs. Kathleen Clarke, the widow of Tom Clarke, life-long Fenian and Signatory of the 1916 Proclamation and sister of Ned Daly who like Tom Clarke, was executed following the Rising. Mrs. Clarke was present at the meeting held in Wynn's Hotel in 1914 to launch Cumann na mBan and she served in the Cumann in the Rising and during the War of Independence. Immediately after the Rising she organised the Republican Prisoners' Dependants' Fund.

She was a member of the second and fifth Dala and of the Senate from 1928 to 1936. She was elected Lord Mayor of Dublin for the years 1939-40 and 1940-41. In recent years Mrs. Clarke resided in Liverpool. The Taoiseach has extended condolences to her sons Tom and Emmet on his own behalf and on behalf of his colleagues in the Government and. at the President's request, has extended his condolences as well.

For more information search the pages of the Irish Newspaper Archive (www.irishnewsarchive.com )