We are doing some more historical research today on The Women of The Rising. We found out something very interesting about the famous Pearse surrender picture, that we didnt know before. Apparently Pearse was not the only volunteer present in the photo. Elizabeth OFarrell was there too. Elizabeth O’Farrell (1884-1957) Born in City Quay, Dublin, she was a midwife at the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, and member of Cumann na mBan. O’Farrell acted as a courier both before and during the Rising, and was one of just three women in the GPO under the decision to evacuate the building. O’Farrell was present along with Pearse during the surrender to General Lowe. According to an account of the incident she gave to the Cistercian monks of Roscrea, in May 1956, OFarrell stated that she deliberately hid from the camera. When OFarrell saw a British soldier getting ready to take the photograph she took a step backwards behind Pearse so as not to give the enemy press any satisfaction. In later years she regretted not being pictured. The image was published days later in the Daily Sketch and the lower part of OFarrells dress and her boots are clearly visible. According to the author, should someone have wanted the photograph to be airbrushed, then all traces of the brave nurse would have been removed. Elizabeth OFarrell joined the Citizen Army and the Volunteers in the GPO garrison to work as a nurse and wore an improvised red-cross uniform. She had initially walked up Moore Street to a British army barricade carrying a white flag and had been taken to meet General Lowe. Her mission was to request talks between the rebels and the British. Later she took Pearses orders to various IRA commands around Dublin telling them to surrender. Although she was tried along with other participants, she was not given a jail sentence because of her part in organising the surrender of the rebels. The original of the famous photograph was recently bought at auction by the National Museum of Ireland. We have attached the photo in question with all three edits. See what you think? If you are enjoying our post please like and share our page with your Facebook friends.
Posted on: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 13:10:25 +0000
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