Linda Kearns MacWhinney
Encyclopedia
Linda MacWhinney a native of Sligo
, was an Irish
Fianna Fáil
politician and nurse.
Two days after the insurgents seized the Dublin GPO
during the Easter Rising
in April 1916, nurse Linda Kearns took over an empty building on North Great George's Street. She hung a Red Cross flag above the door and welcomed casualties of the fighting, from both sides of the conflict. Kearns was not interested in nationalism
or republicanism
prior to the Easter Rising
, but there were women who were already supporters of the cause, like Countess Markievicz and Maud Gonne
. Because she treated republican participants during the uprising, the British Army
ordered Kearns to close her unofficial hospital. But the young nurse discovered that she had certain skills that could be useful in times of war.
After the Rising she went into private nursing. She was the nurse to the O'Connor Morris family in Tullamore
and traveled quite extensively with them. In October 1921, she famously escaped from Mountjoy Jail with Eithne Coyle
. She subsequently played a part in the Irish Civil War
.
She was elected to Seanad Éireann
on the Industrial and Commercial Panel in April 1938. She was defeated at the Seanad election of August 1938.
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
, was an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
politician and nurse.
Two days after the insurgents seized the Dublin GPO
General Post Office (Dublin)
The General Post Office ' in Dublin is the headquarters of the Irish postal service, An Post, and Dublin's principal post office...
during the Easter Rising
Easter Rising
The Easter Rising was an insurrection staged in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans with the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic at a time when the British Empire was heavily engaged in the First World War...
in April 1916, nurse Linda Kearns took over an empty building on North Great George's Street. She hung a Red Cross flag above the door and welcomed casualties of the fighting, from both sides of the conflict. Kearns was not interested in nationalism
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
or republicanism
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
prior to the Easter Rising
Easter Rising
The Easter Rising was an insurrection staged in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans with the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic at a time when the British Empire was heavily engaged in the First World War...
, but there were women who were already supporters of the cause, like Countess Markievicz and Maud Gonne
Maud Gonne
Maud Gonne MacBride was an English-born Irish revolutionary, feminist and actress, best remembered for her turbulent relationship with William Butler Yeats. Of Anglo-Irish stock and birth, she was won over to Irish nationalism by the plight of evicted people in the Land Wars...
. Because she treated republican participants during the uprising, the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
ordered Kearns to close her unofficial hospital. But the young nurse discovered that she had certain skills that could be useful in times of war.
After the Rising she went into private nursing. She was the nurse to the O'Connor Morris family in Tullamore
Tullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
and traveled quite extensively with them. In October 1921, she famously escaped from Mountjoy Jail with Eithne Coyle
Eithne Coyle
Eithne Coyle was an Irish republican activist. She was a leading figure within Cumann na mBan and a member of the Gaelic League...
. She subsequently played a part in the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
.
She was elected to Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
on the Industrial and Commercial Panel in April 1938. She was defeated at the Seanad election of August 1938.