LEADER of Cumann na mBan in Clare, Nan Hogan was fearless and dedicated to the cause of Irish freedom during the War of Independence. The Cratloe woman’s contribution to Ireland’s revolutionary history was in danger of being obscured and, until relatively recent times, her burial place was unmarked.
Efforts to revive Nan’s memory have begun in earnest and acclaimed author, Colm Liddy, has just published a lavishly-illustrated biography that tells her story and honours her revolutionary achievements.
“Like most women of the revolutionary era, Nan was forgotten for a long time,” Colm told The Champion. “She didn’t even have a gravestone until the last decade.”
The Newmarket man is among those working to raise Nan’s profile and his book describes her life and especially her activities during the War of Independence. Vehemently opposed to the Treaty, Nan was imprisoned for her role in the Civil War. In Kilmainham Gaol, her cellmate was Grace Gifford Plunkett. Much of the book describes Nan’s time with Grace and many other famous revolutionary women, including Maud Gonne.
A prolific author since his 20s, Colm has turned his talent to fact as well as fiction over the last three decades. His decision to write about Nan’s achievements came about after her met a member of her family.
“I had a chance meeting with Tom Hogan, a grandnephew of Nan’s,” he explained. “Previously I had known a small bit about her, but in talking to him I realised that there was a lot more material that was not widely known.
In particular, he had a drawing given to Nan as a gift by Grace Plunkett. The two women had become friends when sharing a cell in Kilmainham Gaol. Grace, who is now the title of a song, was perhaps the most tragic figure of 1916, with her doomed marriage just hours before Joseph Plunkett was shot by firing squad. Tom Hogan also had letters written by Nan and I began to realise there was a much bigger story to be told.”
Colm set about documenting Nan’s story and quickly realised he was dealing with an extraordinary woman, whose contribution was only just beginning to be recognised.
“I don’t think it has ever been fully acknowledged the extent to which there could be no War of Independence without Cumann na mBan,” he said.
“For two-and-a-half years of guerrilla warfare, it was the women who provided the infrastructure that allowed the IRA to operate. Most of these men were on the run and couldn’t go home for the basic necessities of life. It was Cumann na mBan who fed them, clothed them and gave them a place to sleep. On top of that, communication between the units was mostly done by women and it was also women who minded the weapons and delivered them to the site of an ambush.
“Nan Hogan was the leader of all these women in East Clare and eventually the whole county. She set up many of the branches and trained the members. Her home was the Brigade HQ for both the IRA and Cumann na mBan, so her role required huge skill in managing logistics. Also on a personal level, she was the bravest of them all. There are numerous anecdotes of her bringing injured men to hospital, always managing to talk her way through army checkpoints.”
While imprisoned in Dublin, Nan met other women dedicated to the cause of Irish freedom.
“A good part of the book is taken up with Nan’s term in Kilmainham Gaol,” Colm said. “She was there at a time when the prison was reserved for anti-Treaty women. As they were political prisoners, there was considerable freedom for the women to move about between cells.
“So Nan suddenly had the opportunity to meet and befriend like-minded women from around the country. Among them were Maud Gonne, who initially had her small dog with her, and Dorothy Macardle who went on to become a famous writer.”
In researching the book, Colm built on the work done locally and the opportunity afforded by national archival material.
“I began with the family research done by Tom Hogan and some great work done by Cratloe historian, Martin Bourke,” he outlined. “On top of that though, I went to Dublin many times and trawled through the Military Archives and those of Kilmainham Gaol.” Colm also sourced 270 images to help to bring the story of nan’s life and times to life.
The book sets out to raise awareness of Nan’s contribution and achievements, and ties in with other commemorative activities on the anniversary, this year and last, of the War of Independence and the Civil War. “Recently there have plaques erected in her name in O’Briensbridge and
Cratloe National School,” Colm said. “The detail on what she did however has been limited and sometimes incorrect. For instance, it is widely believed that she died on hunger strike but this is not the case. Hopefully this book can set the record straight.”
A pharmacist by profession, Colm is the author of several books. His works to-date include the novel Not Quite a Fairytale, a collection of humorous and insightful vignettes entitled 40 Fights Between Husband and Wives, as well as a history of his local area, Long Ago in Newmarket on Fergus.
Not surprisingly, he already has his sights on his next publication, a history of a fascinating secret society.
“Next up will be ‘The Terry Alts’,” he said. “They were a group of rebels who briefly turned County Clare into a war zone in 1831. Essentially, they were landless labourers, protesting at their poverty. They committed several murders but their signature protest was non- violent. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of them, used to assemble at a field during the dead of night and dig it up with shovels.”
The launch of Nan Hogan, Her Life in Cumann na mBan and Kilmainham Gaol among Women of the Irish Revolution was held last Wednesday night (December 7) in the Inn at Dromoland.
The book is available from Ennis Bookshop, Lahinch Bookshop, Banner Bookshops in Ennistymon and Kilrush and online at Shopinireland.ie. More details are available from colmliddy@eircom.net or 086-8035319.