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Fiona Plunkett

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Fiona Plunkett

Birth
Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Death
14 Jul 1977 (aged 81)
Ballsbridge, County Dublin, Ireland
Burial
Glasnevin, County Dublin, Ireland Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Fiona Plunkett

aged 81,
late of 23 Wellington Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

Birth
Josephine Plunkett, daughter of George Noble Plunkett and Josephine Plunkett, formerly Cranny, was born on 11 January 1896, at 26 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin.
Her father, who registered her birth, gave his occupation as a Barrister at Law, Count.

In the 1901 census, the family were living at Kilternan, Co. Dublin.
present were
Joseph M. Plunkett, aged 13,
Geraldine, aged 9,
George, aged 6,
Josephine, aged 5,
John Patrick, aged 3,

3 servants,
Ellen Fitzhenry, a Nurse, aged 30,
Elizabeth Burke, a Housemaid, aged 31,
Mary Murphy, a Cook, aged 44,
were also present

George Noble Plunkett, aged 48, married,
Josephine M. Plunkett, aged 42, married ,
were recorded on census night, 31 March 1901, living at the town home at 26 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin.

In the 1911 census, the family were still living at 26 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin.
present were
George Nobel Plunkett, aged 59, a Count: Barrister: Museum Director: Justice of the Peace.
He had been married 26 years and had 7 children, all of whom were still alive.
Moya (Maria), daughter, aged 21, a Student,
Geraldine, daughter, aged 19, National University Medical Student,
John, son, aged 13, a Scholar,
also present were
Sara Catherine Farrell, a cousin, aged 48, single, born in Dubuque [Iowa] USA
Margaret O'Keeffe, a Cook, aged 60,
Bridget Dunne, a Parlour Maid, aged 22,
Elizabeth Kinsella, a House Maid, aged 24,

Neither Fiona or her mother Josephine, nor her brother Joseph Mary, seem to have been enumerated in Ireland during the 1911 census.

The following biography has been taken from Wikipedia [slightly edited].
Early and personal life
Fiona Plunkett was the daughter of George Noble Plunkett and Josephine Cranny and grew up on 26 Upper Fitzwilliam Street. She was the youngest of four daughters: Philomena, Mary, and Geraldine Plunkett. She also had three brothers, Jack, George and Joseph Plunkett (the latter two being signatories and participants in the Easter Rising proclamation).
Her religious status was determined by her father's, who was a Roman Catholic. This would also influence where she was to later attend school to receive her education. Her father was the curator of the National Museum of Ireland, however he was forced to step down and exiled to Oxford following both his and his children's actions during the 1916 Rising. He later became a politician, being a member of the then newly formed Sinn Féin party. Her father's political stance had likely[according to whom?] influenced her political actions in 1922 Ireland. Although her family was heavily involved with politics, Plunkett only established her political career at the age of 26 during the Irish Civil War. Plunkett was engaged three times but never married, and died at the age of 81, in 1977 in a Dublin hospital of natural causes.[4]

Education
Opportunity for the Plunkett daughters was not as high as that of their brothers. Plunkett would sit in her brothers' lessons, in an attempt to receive an education. In her later years she attended the Sacred Heart Convent School situated at Lower Leeson Street, Dublin, Ireland - however she only spent a few terms there. Later on in her academic life, she attended a catholic girls school, Mount Anville Secondary School. Plunkett had access to a large collection of books owned by her father, which allowed her to read on various topics.

Political views
Plunkett's political beliefs were largely influenced by other members of her family, particularly her father and three brothers. She had Irish republican ideals, and these beliefs would influence her actions throughout much of her life. As a young girl, she was part of the group of women that provided food relief to the workers effected by the 1913 Dublin Lock-out.
In 1916, she was a member of the Irish Republican Women's Paramilitary, Cumann na mBan, and indirectly participated in the 1916 Easter Rising as an organiser. Joseph would later be executed for his role in the Rising while Oliver and Jack were both imprisoned in England for one year.
In 1917, Cumann na mBan was beginning a regrouping period, memberships increased as did the membership of Sinn Féin. In this period, new branches of Cumann na mBan were being created and old ones were reformed. Nine executives were chosen to represent Cumann na mBan; Plunkett herself, Nancy O' Rahilly and her daughter, Margaret Pearse, Aine Ceannt, Kathleen Clarke, Nancy Wyse-Power, Madge Daly and Mary McSwiney. Plunkett was a member of the group of women left behind after the Easter Rising, that included mothers, sisters, wives and daughters. As a group they perceived themselves as being sidelined, with Plunkett resisting the move to amalgamate many of the groups into Sinn Féin in the period following the Rising. She remained particularly close to her sister-in-law Grace Gifford.

In 1926, Plunkett herself would be tried and imprisoned for her involvement in the raid of the home of Edward Levi. This raid was part of an ongoing campaign against Dublin moneylenders at the time. Three IRA members, allegedly armed, had demanded that Levi hand over all of his account books. Plunkett, Domhall O'Donohue and Mick Price were charged for assisting in the formation of an illegal military force and possession of arms, ammunition and treasonable documents.
In 1942, she stood onto a platform during a 1916 Commemoration at Arbour Hill church, condemning the Irish government's treatment of political prisoners (her brother Jack being one such prisoner at the time, on hunger strike in Arbour Hill Prison, next to the church) under Éamon de Valera's authority. Following her departure from the event, other demonstrators are known to have continued in her place. All references to the "Plunkett Incident" would be censored in the Irish Press in the following days.
In her later years, Plunkett remained an active Republican. In 1971 her letter to the editor of The Irish Times criticised the truce in Northern Ireland at the time, urging the Irish people to stand up against "British Domination". She would go on to say that any celebrations for attained peace while Britain remains in Ireland is but a "hollow mockery" of the Irish people. In 1976, she was prosecuted for her participation in a banned commemoration of the 1916 Rising at the GPO.

Death and legacy
Plunkett died on 14 July 1977 at the age of 81. She was buried in Glasnevin cemetery, in a family grave at the Republican plot. Plunketts's legacy and life is recounted in the book "All in Blood: a memoir" written by her older sister Geraldine Dillon who tells the story of living with the Plunkett family.
Fiona Plunkett

aged 81,
late of 23 Wellington Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

Birth
Josephine Plunkett, daughter of George Noble Plunkett and Josephine Plunkett, formerly Cranny, was born on 11 January 1896, at 26 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin.
Her father, who registered her birth, gave his occupation as a Barrister at Law, Count.

In the 1901 census, the family were living at Kilternan, Co. Dublin.
present were
Joseph M. Plunkett, aged 13,
Geraldine, aged 9,
George, aged 6,
Josephine, aged 5,
John Patrick, aged 3,

3 servants,
Ellen Fitzhenry, a Nurse, aged 30,
Elizabeth Burke, a Housemaid, aged 31,
Mary Murphy, a Cook, aged 44,
were also present

George Noble Plunkett, aged 48, married,
Josephine M. Plunkett, aged 42, married ,
were recorded on census night, 31 March 1901, living at the town home at 26 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin.

In the 1911 census, the family were still living at 26 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin.
present were
George Nobel Plunkett, aged 59, a Count: Barrister: Museum Director: Justice of the Peace.
He had been married 26 years and had 7 children, all of whom were still alive.
Moya (Maria), daughter, aged 21, a Student,
Geraldine, daughter, aged 19, National University Medical Student,
John, son, aged 13, a Scholar,
also present were
Sara Catherine Farrell, a cousin, aged 48, single, born in Dubuque [Iowa] USA
Margaret O'Keeffe, a Cook, aged 60,
Bridget Dunne, a Parlour Maid, aged 22,
Elizabeth Kinsella, a House Maid, aged 24,

Neither Fiona or her mother Josephine, nor her brother Joseph Mary, seem to have been enumerated in Ireland during the 1911 census.

The following biography has been taken from Wikipedia [slightly edited].
Early and personal life
Fiona Plunkett was the daughter of George Noble Plunkett and Josephine Cranny and grew up on 26 Upper Fitzwilliam Street. She was the youngest of four daughters: Philomena, Mary, and Geraldine Plunkett. She also had three brothers, Jack, George and Joseph Plunkett (the latter two being signatories and participants in the Easter Rising proclamation).
Her religious status was determined by her father's, who was a Roman Catholic. This would also influence where she was to later attend school to receive her education. Her father was the curator of the National Museum of Ireland, however he was forced to step down and exiled to Oxford following both his and his children's actions during the 1916 Rising. He later became a politician, being a member of the then newly formed Sinn Féin party. Her father's political stance had likely[according to whom?] influenced her political actions in 1922 Ireland. Although her family was heavily involved with politics, Plunkett only established her political career at the age of 26 during the Irish Civil War. Plunkett was engaged three times but never married, and died at the age of 81, in 1977 in a Dublin hospital of natural causes.[4]

Education
Opportunity for the Plunkett daughters was not as high as that of their brothers. Plunkett would sit in her brothers' lessons, in an attempt to receive an education. In her later years she attended the Sacred Heart Convent School situated at Lower Leeson Street, Dublin, Ireland - however she only spent a few terms there. Later on in her academic life, she attended a catholic girls school, Mount Anville Secondary School. Plunkett had access to a large collection of books owned by her father, which allowed her to read on various topics.

Political views
Plunkett's political beliefs were largely influenced by other members of her family, particularly her father and three brothers. She had Irish republican ideals, and these beliefs would influence her actions throughout much of her life. As a young girl, she was part of the group of women that provided food relief to the workers effected by the 1913 Dublin Lock-out.
In 1916, she was a member of the Irish Republican Women's Paramilitary, Cumann na mBan, and indirectly participated in the 1916 Easter Rising as an organiser. Joseph would later be executed for his role in the Rising while Oliver and Jack were both imprisoned in England for one year.
In 1917, Cumann na mBan was beginning a regrouping period, memberships increased as did the membership of Sinn Féin. In this period, new branches of Cumann na mBan were being created and old ones were reformed. Nine executives were chosen to represent Cumann na mBan; Plunkett herself, Nancy O' Rahilly and her daughter, Margaret Pearse, Aine Ceannt, Kathleen Clarke, Nancy Wyse-Power, Madge Daly and Mary McSwiney. Plunkett was a member of the group of women left behind after the Easter Rising, that included mothers, sisters, wives and daughters. As a group they perceived themselves as being sidelined, with Plunkett resisting the move to amalgamate many of the groups into Sinn Féin in the period following the Rising. She remained particularly close to her sister-in-law Grace Gifford.

In 1926, Plunkett herself would be tried and imprisoned for her involvement in the raid of the home of Edward Levi. This raid was part of an ongoing campaign against Dublin moneylenders at the time. Three IRA members, allegedly armed, had demanded that Levi hand over all of his account books. Plunkett, Domhall O'Donohue and Mick Price were charged for assisting in the formation of an illegal military force and possession of arms, ammunition and treasonable documents.
In 1942, she stood onto a platform during a 1916 Commemoration at Arbour Hill church, condemning the Irish government's treatment of political prisoners (her brother Jack being one such prisoner at the time, on hunger strike in Arbour Hill Prison, next to the church) under Éamon de Valera's authority. Following her departure from the event, other demonstrators are known to have continued in her place. All references to the "Plunkett Incident" would be censored in the Irish Press in the following days.
In her later years, Plunkett remained an active Republican. In 1971 her letter to the editor of The Irish Times criticised the truce in Northern Ireland at the time, urging the Irish people to stand up against "British Domination". She would go on to say that any celebrations for attained peace while Britain remains in Ireland is but a "hollow mockery" of the Irish people. In 1976, she was prosecuted for her participation in a banned commemoration of the 1916 Rising at the GPO.

Death and legacy
Plunkett died on 14 July 1977 at the age of 81. She was buried in Glasnevin cemetery, in a family grave at the Republican plot. Plunketts's legacy and life is recounted in the book "All in Blood: a memoir" written by her older sister Geraldine Dillon who tells the story of living with the Plunkett family.

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  • Created by: John
  • Added: Mar 2, 2019
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/197246583/fiona-plunkett: accessed ), memorial page for Fiona Plunkett (11 Jan 1896–14 Jul 1977), Find a Grave Memorial ID 197246583, citing Glasnevin Cemetery, Glasnevin, County Dublin, Ireland; Maintained by John (contributor 47032041).