Eva Gore-Booth’s legacy as suffragist, trade union organiser and poet to be honoured at Lissadell House event

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

Lissadell House will this weekend, July 24-25 host a national conference to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the death of Eva Gore-Booth. The only conference of its kind, the event will examine the life and legacy of Eva Gore-Booth who was a leading suffragist; journalist who campaigned to reprieve the death penalty on Roger Casement; a trade union organiser for women in the industrial cities of England; artist, poet, and author who was admired by WB Yeats.

A dedicated exhibition to mark the centenary of her death has been curated by Constance Cassidy and Eddie Walsh of Lissadell House with unseen writings, drawings and books.

Lesser-known than her flamboyant older sister, Countess Markievicz, Eva Gore-Booth had an enduring influence on the countess’ turn to radicalism and was instrumental in ensuring that the family secured her reprieve from execution following the 1916 Rising.

Sonja Tiernan, who will launch the anniversary edition of her acclaimed biography of Eva, said that: “Eva Gore-Booth was much more than a supporter of other historically important individuals. She was an instigator, an influencer and a leader of her times. In the twenty first century, as equality, diversity and inclusion are under threat, Gore-Booth’s courageous example is more important than ever.”

The Conference organiser, Moira Leydon, a native of Maugherow, said that Eva’s centenary could not go unmarked. “Eva Gore-Booth was ahead of her times in so many ways. She rejected the wealth and privilege of the Big House and committed herself to an activist’s life in pursuit of her principles. She was a leading figure in political life in Britain for almost thirty years, at one stage outmanoeuvring Wintson Churchill in an by-election in her campaign for women’s suffrage.”

This commemorative conference will reflect on her legacy in terms of addressing inequality, the incapacity of politics to work for the many and not the few, and her dogged resistance to militarism as a solution to political and social problems.”

The Conference will be opened by Sabina Higgins and will include leading Irish historians, poets and activists and local artistic performances. Starting at 4pm in the Coach House in Lissadell, tickets are available at the door.

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.