Julia Grenan
| Julia Grenan | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Julia Grenan 1884 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 6 January 1972 Dublin, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Other names | Sheila Grenan |
Julia Grenan (Sighle, Sheila, 1884 – 6 January 1972) was an Irish nationalist, suffragette and socialist and member of Cumann na mBan, best known for being one of the three last women to leave the Headquarters during the Easter Rising of 1916.
Julia Grenan was born in 1884 to Patrick Grenan, a joiner of Lombard Street in Dublin near to where Elizabeth O'Farrell grew up. She had two brothers and was the only girl. She went to the Sisters of Mercy school and after that became a dressmaker. Most of her life was spent with O'Farrell, the two girls being childhood friends and growing up together. As women they were strong nationalists, spoke Irish and joined the various organisations in Dublin like the Gaelic League, the Irish Women's Franchise League and the Irish Women Workers' Union. In 1906 joined Inghinidhe na hÉireann, and went on to become members of the Inghinidhe branch of Cumann na mBan soon after its creation in 1914. During the 1913 Dublin Lock-out they supported the workers. They worked with Constance Markievicz to try to prevent recruitment into the British Armed forces. She trained them both in the use of firearms.
Once the Rising was planned, and the day before it began Markievicz ensured they were central to the action by directing them to Liberty Hall to introduce them to the Irish Citizen Army leader James Connolly and ensuring he knew they were to be trusted.
Grenan was sent to Dundalk and Carrickmacross to deliver dispatches to the republican units there. O'Farrell was sent west. On their return they worked out of the General Post Office as couriers and nurses. They also ensured delivery of ammunition from the GPO to the College of Surgeons garrison, hiding the weapons under their clothes. Along with her friend O'Farrell, she cared for the wounded including James Connolly whose ankle was shattered by a bullet on the 27th. They refused to leave when the rest of the women were evacuated until the Friday night when they retreated with the leaders to Moore Street. Grenan and O'Farrell nursed the wounded there until the final surrender was decided. O'Farrell was handed a Red Cross insignia and a white flag and asked to deliver the surrender to the British military. Grenan watched her from the door as O'Farrell walked out into heavy fire.
...
Wikipedia