Máirín Cregan

Máirín Cregan (27 March 1891 – 9 November 1975) was an Irish nationalist who was involved in the 1916 Easter Rising and Irish War of Independence. She later made her name writing for children, as well as writing plays and novels for adults.

Early life Mary Ellen Cregan was born on 27 March 1891 in Killorglin, County Kerry to Morgan Cregan and Ellen O'Shea. Her father was a stonemason from Limerick. The family were strong believers in the Gaelic revival movement and Cregan herself learned Irish and performed songs at Gaelic League concerts. Although she went to primary school locally, she went away to secondary school to St. Louis Convent in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan. After finishing school, Cregan became a teacher, working in Goresbridge, County Kilkenny from 1911 to 1914.

Republican involvement In September 1914 she went to Dublin to study music in the Leinster School of Music, under Madame Coslett Heller. It was while she was in Dublin that she became friends with the Ryan family, who were strong nationalists as well as interested in the Gaelic League and Sinn Féin. She began to sing for concerts which were fundraisers for the Irish Volunteers. The last concert was just two weeks before the Easter Rising.

Cregan was a member of Cumann na mBan and with them was active during the Irish War of Independence. She was given a medal for her participation. In July 1919 she married James Ryan whose whole family had been deeply involved in the Easter Rising, as well as the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War. They had three children, Eoin who became a Senator, Nuala (Colgan) and Seamus.

Her first book for children was Old John and gained Cregan considerable international success and attention. Sean Eoin was also published in Irish, and was illustrated by Jack Butler Yeats. Her work was also aired on the BBC and RTÉ. Rathina won the Downey Award in the United States in 1943.