Muriel MacDonagh

Muriel MacDonagh (née Gifford; 18 December 1884 – 9 July 1917) was an Irish nationalist, and member of Inghinidhe na hÉireann. Her husband Thomas MacDonagh, was one of the signees of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, which led to the Easter Rebellion.

Early life

Muriel Enid Gifford was born at 12 Cowper Road, Rathmines on 18 December 1884. She was the fourth daughter and eighth child of twelve of Frederick and Isabella Gifford. As a child, she suffered at different times from rheumatic fever and phlebitis. She attended Alexandra College, and spent a brief time in England training to as a poultry instructor. Returning to Ireland, she trained at Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital, Dublin as a student nurse, but her health suffered from the work. She also served as an officer and committee member on this aid association. Her husband named her as his literary executor, and she prepared a collected edition of his poetry that was published in October 1916. The success of this volume, and his bestselling Literature in Ireland, due to be published at the time he was executed, eased her financial difficulties somewhat. As there was great interest in the 1916 widows and their families, her funeral at Glasnevin Cemetery attracted a large crowd of mourners estimated at 5,000 in the funeral procession. Following her death, there was a legal custody battle between the Giffords and the MacDonaghs over Donagh and Barbara.