Life
Wife of Joseph Mary Plunkett; b. Protestant and Unionist family; strongly
influenced by the patriotism of a Catholic nurse-maid; ed. Slade School
of Art, published two books of Abbey caricatures; religious banner in
Franciscan Church, Galway; announced engagement, 11 Feb. 1916; wedding
planned for 23 Apr. delayed by mistaken message; m. in Kilmainham Prison
Chapel, 4 May refused admission to family home following this event and
her conversion to Catholicism; and suffered miscarriage of her child with
Plunkett; became a member of provisional Republican Government, 1917;
presents strong opposition to London Treaty in March 1922 issue of The
Republic; arrested 1926; 3 poems in Catholic Bulletin, Dec
1921 to Dec. 1928.
- Marie O’Neill, Grace Gifford Plunkett and Irish Freedom: Tragic Bride of 1916 (Dublin: IAP 2000), xx, 117pp.
Notes
Four sisters: Grace and four sisters active in nationalist politics;
Nellie Gifford Donnelly fought in 1916 Rising; Muriel Gifford m. Thomas
MacDonagh; Sydney Gifford, pseud John Brennan; all grandchildren of Arthur
Vandeleur, cooperative leader of Ralahine.
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Princess Grace Irish Library (Monaco)