Máire Gill
Encyclopedia
Máire ‘Molly’ Gill (1891–1977) was a political activist who became third and longest-serving president of the Camogie Association
and captained a Dublin team to an All Ireland championship while serving as president of the association.
. She befriended the sisters of William Butler Yeats
, Elixabeth
and Lily, started learning Irish, and joined Inghinidhe na hEireann
and Cumann na mBan
, serving on the executive committee of the Irish Republican Prisoners Dependant Fund. She took the anti-treaty side during the Civil War, and was arrested in May 1923 alongside the secretary of the Camogie Association Áine Ní Riain and was interned in Kilmainham
for several months. She continued to work in Cuala Press
until 1969.
. By 1922 she was one of Dublin’s most prominent referees and presided over meetings of the Dublin league.
committee and supported the controversial withdrawal of the sport from the Tailteann festival in 1924, having captained the Dublin team that played London in an alternative international match a few weeks earlier.
She continued to referee and play for both Crokes and Dublin
and in 1925 was described as Dublin’s star player in a match against Kilkenny In 1928 she played on the Leinster team which won the inter-provincial Tailteann competition and captained Dublin to victory in the first All Ireland final in 1932.
Camogie Association
The Camogie Association organises and promotes the sport of camogie in Ireland and across the world. The Association has close ties with the Gaelic Athletic Association.-History:...
and captained a Dublin team to an All Ireland championship while serving as president of the association.
Cultural Activism
Mollie went to work with the Dun Emer industries established by Evelyn Gleeson to promote Irish crafts and industries and then with Cuala PressCuala Press
The Cuala Press was an Irish private press set up in 1908 by Elizabeth Yeats with support from her brother William Butler Yeats that played an important role in the Celtic Revival of the early 20th century.-Origins:...
. She befriended the sisters of William Butler Yeats
William Butler Yeats
William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and playwright, and one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature. A pillar of both the Irish and British literary establishments, in his later years he served as an Irish Senator for two terms...
, Elixabeth
Elizabeth Yeats
Elizabeth Corbett Yeats , known as Lolly, was born at 23 Fitzroy Road, London. She was the daughter of the Irish artist John Butler Yeats and sister of W. B., Jack and Susan Mary "Lily" Yeats. She trained and worked as an art teacher and was a member of William Morris's circle in London before her...
and Lily, started learning Irish, and joined Inghinidhe na hEireann
Inghinidhe na hÉireann
Inghinidhe na hÉireann , abbreviated InaÉ, was a revolutionary women’s society founded by Maud Gonne on Easter Sunday 1900.Gonne was elected President of the association; Vice-Presidents were Alice Furlong, Jenny Wyse Power, Annie Egan and Anna Johnston...
and Cumann na mBan
Cumann na mBan
Cumann na mBan is an Irish republican women's paramilitary organisation formed in Dublin on 2 April 1914 as an auxiliary of the Irish Volunteers...
, serving on the executive committee of the Irish Republican Prisoners Dependant Fund. She took the anti-treaty side during the Civil War, and was arrested in May 1923 alongside the secretary of the Camogie Association Áine Ní Riain and was interned in Kilmainham
Kilmainham
Kilmainham is a suburb of Dublin south of the River Liffey and west of the city centre, in the Dublin 8 postal district.-History:In the Viking era, the monastery was home to the first Norse base in Ireland....
for several months. She continued to work in Cuala Press
Cuala Press
The Cuala Press was an Irish private press set up in 1908 by Elizabeth Yeats with support from her brother William Butler Yeats that played an important role in the Celtic Revival of the early 20th century.-Origins:...
until 1969.
Camogie Playing Career
She joined Crokes football and hurling club where Harry Boland was a member and marched with the Dublin camogie delegation to the funeral of Jeremiah O'Donovan RossaJeremiah O'Donovan Rossa
Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa , was an Irish Fenian leader and prominent member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. His life as an Irish Fenian is well documented but he is perhaps known best in death for the graveside oration given at his funeral by Pádraig Pearse.-Life in Ireland:He was born at...
. By 1922 she was one of Dublin’s most prominent referees and presided over meetings of the Dublin league.
Camogie President
When Cualacht Luithchleas na mBan Gaedheal was revived in 1923 she was elected president. Rules were changed, alnd lighter sticks were used contributing to a revival in the game, particularly in Dublin and its schools. She served as camogie’s representative on the TailteannTailteann Games
The Tailteann Games were an ancient sporting event held in Ireland in honour of the goddess Tailtiu. They ran from 632 BC to 1169-1171 AD when they died out after the Norman invasion....
committee and supported the controversial withdrawal of the sport from the Tailteann festival in 1924, having captained the Dublin team that played London in an alternative international match a few weeks earlier.
She continued to referee and play for both Crokes and Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
and in 1925 was described as Dublin’s star player in a match against Kilkenny In 1928 she played on the Leinster team which won the inter-provincial Tailteann competition and captained Dublin to victory in the first All Ireland final in 1932.
Legacy for Camogie
The first decade of her term of office saw considerable progress. The game, which had stagnated around 1910 after an initial period of growth, (“‘whether through lack of encouragement or enthusiasm she did not know,”‘ she told the 1933 camogie congress) increased its presence after meeting indifference outside of Dublin to a position of strength, with 80 clubs in Dublin and 320 clubs in all. This rapid growth was negated considerably by the imposition of a ban on hockey in 1934 and a split in the Association after thant ban was removed in 1939, briefly repaired in 1941-43 but which rumbled on until 1951. The association was renamed the National Camoguidheacht Association in 1939.External links
- Camogie.ie Official Camogie Association Website
- Mollie Gill Cuala Press Archives
- On The Ball Official Camogie Magazine Issue 1 and issue 2
- History of Camogie slideshow. presented by Cumann Camógaíochta Communications Committee at GAA Museum January 25, 2010 part one, part two, part three and part four
- Camogie on official GAA website
- Timeline: History of Camogie
- Camogie on GAA Oral History Project
- County and provincial websites: Antrim Armagh Clare Connacht Cork Derry Down Dublin Galway Kerry Kildare Kilkenny Leinster Limerick London Louth Meath Munster North America Offaly Tipperary Ulster Waterford Wexford Wicklow