By Amie and Renée
Cumann Na mBann

Cumann Na mBan translated as the ‘Womens League’ originally formed as a back up army to help the Irish Volunteers.
Cumann Na mBan was officially founded on the 5th of April,1913 at a meeting held in the Wynne’s Hotel in Dublin led by Kathleen Lane O’Kelly.
How did it begin?

The aims were to advance the cause of Irish liberty and teach its members first aid, drill, signaling and riffle practice, in order to aid the men of Ireland.
Aims

On the 23rd of April 1916,when the Military Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood finalised arrangements for the Easter Rising, it integrated Cumann Na mBan, along with Irish Volunteers and the Irish Citizen Army, into the ‘Army of the Irish Republic’. Patrick Pearse was appointed overall Commandant-General and James Connolly as Commandant-General of the Dublin Division.
The Ladies’ Role in The Easter Rising

The women in the rebel garrisons fought along side the men and were not confined, as is commonly believed, to nursing duties or other task traditionally assigned to woman such as making tea and sandwiches for the fighting men. Members also gathered intelligence on scouting expeditions, carried dispatches and transferred arms from dumps across the cities to the fighting men.
A number of Cumman Na mBan members died in the rising, including volunteer Margaretta Keogh who was shot dead outside the South Dublin Union

On their march

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