Irish history is brimming with unique characters, but few stand out as dramatically as Countess Constance Markievicz. Her life is filled with moments that might seem plucked from fiction: from her aristocratic roots to her revolutionary activities, and even becoming one of the first women in the world to hold a ministerial office. So, is the story of Countess Markievicz fact, or just a load of bollocks? Let’s dig into this fascinating figure’s life and uncover the truth.

From Aristocracy to Revolution

Constance Georgine Gore-Booth was born in 1868 to a wealthy Anglo-Irish family in County Sligo. Her father, Sir Henry Gore-Booth, was a prominent landowner, and Constance enjoyed the privileges of an upper-class upbringing. She received a fine education and was trained in the arts, but her life would take a radical turn far from the comforts of her aristocratic heritage.

While studying art in Paris, Constance met and married a Polish count, Casimir Markievicz, hence her illustrious title, Countess Markievicz. However, her marriage did not define her; rather, it was her political awakening that truly set her apart.

Upon returning to Ireland, Constance became deeply involved in nationalist and socialist movements. Influenced by the plight of the poor and the growing calls for Irish independence, she joined the Irish Citizen Army, a small socialist paramilitary group led by James Connolly. This decision would mark the beginning of her revolutionary career.

The 1916 Easter Rising

Markievicz’s most notable contribution to Irish history came during the Easter Rising of 1916, an armed insurrection against British rule in Ireland. She was one of the few women to take a leading role in the rebellion. Dressed in military uniform, armed with a pistol, and commanding troops, she played a crucial part in the fighting.

As a second-in-command at St Stephen’s Green, Markievicz led a group of rebels in an attempt to seize key points in Dublin. While their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, and the Rising was crushed after six days, her bravery earned her a prominent place in Irish revolutionary history.

After the rebellion’s collapse, Markievicz was arrested and sentenced to death. However, her life was spared due to her gender—a decision she famously resented, stating that she wished they had the decency to execute her. Instead, she was imprisoned in Aylesbury Prison in England.

The First Woman Elected to the British Parliament

Here’s where her story takes another surprising turn: Constance Markievicz was the first woman ever elected to the British House of Commons. In the general election of 1918, she won a seat as a Sinn Féin candidate for Dublin St Patrick’s. However, true to her republican beliefs, she never took her seat, as Sinn Féin had adopted a policy of abstentionism, refusing to recognise British authority over Ireland.

Instead, she served in Dáil Éireann, the revolutionary Irish parliament. In 1919, she became Minister for Labour in the newly-formed Irish government, making her one of the first women in the world to hold a ministerial position. This is no tall tale—it’s a fact backed by historical records. Her achievement is even more extraordinary considering the era, a time when women’s rights were still being hotly contested across the globe.

A Revolutionary to the End

Throughout her life, Markievicz remained committed to her cause. She continued to fight for Irish independence, campaigning for women’s rights and the welfare of the poor. After the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921, which led to the establishment of the Irish Free State, Markievicz opposed the treaty, siding with the anti-treaty forces during the Irish Civil War.

Her health, however, began to fail, and she spent her final years in poverty, having given away much of her wealth to support her political activities. In 1927, at the age of 59, she died in a public hospital in Dublin, a far cry from her aristocratic beginnings.

The Verdict: Fact or Bollocks?

So, was the story of Countess Constance Markievicz a load of bollocks, or is it fact?