Maud Gonne, c.1890

Context: Maud Gonne was an Irish patriot, actress, and feminist. She was one of the founders of Sinn Féin (We Ourselves/Party), and an early member of the theatre movement started by her longtime suitor, W.B. Yeats. She co-founded Inghinidhe na hÉireann (Daughters of Ireland) in 1900, which promoted Irish language, culture, and anti-imperial politics, especially among women and youth.

In her autobiography Gonne wrote “I have always hated war and am by nature and philosophy a pacifist, but it is the English who are forcing war on us, and the first principle of war is to kill the enemy.”

Gonne was also deeply involved in nationalist propaganda, public speaking, and campaigns against British rule, including opposition to royal visits and conscription. Her work helped shape the cultural and political climate that fueled the broader Irish independence movement.