Nora Connolly O'Brien

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Nora Connolly O'Brien (1893 - 17 June 1981) was activist and writer, a member of the Irish Seanad appointed by the Taoiseach from 1957-1969.

[edit] Life

The second daughter of James Connolly (an Irish republican, trade unionist and marxist), she was born in Scotland but accompanied her father on his travels in Ireland and America during her youth. In 1911 the family moved to Dublin where she was a founder member of Young Republican Party, the girls’ branch of the Fianna.

After the execution of her father following the Easter Rising in 1916, Nora Connolly O'Brien, became a life long supporter of the republican movement and of the Irish left wing. In 1918 she toured the US lecturing on the Rising. She took part in the Irish War of Independence and was briefly imprisoned.

In 1930s Nora Connolly O'Brian corresponded with Leon Trotsky and became a known veteran of the European non-stalinist Left.

When the Republican Movement adopted a more left wing attitude and decided to strengthen the political struggle she was one of the veterans supporting the new policy that finally lead to the first ceasefire (and now peace) in Northern Ireland.

Shortly before she died in 1981 she spoke at the annual conference of Sinn Fein, the Ard Fheis in 1980.