Cumann na Mban 1913-26 Redressing the Balance

Cumann na mBan was formally inaugurated in April 1914. Discussion on an informal level about starting such an organisation had been taking place from November 1913. The name Cumann na mBan was translated at this time in the English language as The Irishwomen’s Council. An investigation of the Primary sources available on Cumann na mBan indicates that the histories previously written do not present a balanced picture of this organisation between the years' 1913-1926. The word balance is used here in the sense that previous histories of the organisation tend to be of unsubtle consensus. The sub title of this work is Redressing the Balance. This subtitle is the kernel of the findings of this thesis. The story of Cumann na mBan is complex. It required a comprehensive reading of available Primary source material and a study of the Secondary sources to read what has been previously written about the organisation.. Cumann na mBan like Sinn Fein, the Irish Volunteers and the IRA was an integral part of the Nationalist Republican movement from 1913 to 1926. The general history books tend to treat Cumann na mBan as a minor aspect of the activities during this period. Feminist history has isolated the story of Cumann na mBan from the events of their time. It has contributed to marginalising the history of this Nationalist Republican organisation. This has created in historic writing a simpilistic imbalance in the way Cumann na mBan is perceived. The women are viewed as either victims or icons. They were neither. The history of the rank and file of Cumann na mBan has not been written. Somewhere between these two types of study there is a way of redressing this imbalance. A reassessment of Cumann na mBan can be undertaken. This involves a through study of the Primary and Secondary Source material. This thesis will show precisely the results of the aforementioned method of study on this issue