During the 1916 Easter Rising, Dr. Kathleen Lynn took command at City Hall after Sean Connolly was killed. As Chief Medical Officer of the Irish Citizen Army, Lynn not only provided medical care but also assumed leadership responsibilities as the new commander of the rebels.
After Connolly’s death, she continued to coordinate both the fighting and the medical efforts to save Connolly and others wounded among the rebels stationed at City Hall. Her dual role as a doctor and a leader exemplified her dedication and courage in the face of adversity.
Lynn’s command at City Hall during such a critical moment in the Rising further highlights her significant contribution to the rebellion and her pivotal role in Irish history.
Dr. Lynn was a fierce advocate for the poor and children, and in 1919, she founded Saint Ultan’s Children’s Hospital.
A lifelong worker for Womens Rights.
Dr. Kathleen Lynn played a pivotal role in Ireland’s suffrage, labour, and nationalist movements during the early 20th century.
She served as a member of the executive committee of the Irish Women’s Suffragette and Local Government Association (IWSLGA) from 1903 until 1916, advocating for women’s rights alongside influential figures like Sylvia Pankhurst of the British Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) from 1908 onward.
In 1912, Lynn participated in a significant mass meeting urging the inclusion of women’s suffrage in the Third Home Rule Bill. Her commitment extended beyond suffrage issues; during the 1913 lock-out, she supported workers and collaborated with Constance Markievicz and James Connolly in Liberty Hall’s soup kitchens. This experience deepened her involvement in nationalist circles, influenced by her close relationships with Markievicz and Helena Molony, who she cared for during illness in her Rathmines home.
Lynn’s dedication intensified with her role as chief medical officer for the Irish Citizen Army during the 1916 Easter Rising, where she described herself as “a Red Cross doctor and a belligerent” upon her arrest.
She endured imprisonment in Kilmainham Gaol alongside Markievicz, Molony, and Madeleine French-Mullen. Lynn’s leadership continued post-Rising, as she was elected vice-president of the Sinn Féin executive in 1917 and later elected as an anti-Treaty Sinn Féin Teachta Dála (TD) for Dublin County in 1923, though she adhered to the party’s abstentionist policy.
Despite her active political career, Lynn became disillusioned with Sinn Féin’s direction and eventually withdrew from politics in 1927. Her departure was influenced by the party’s reluctance to embrace broader social reforms and healthcare initiatives, which she passionately advocated for throughout her career.
Additionally, during the Irish War of Independence, Lynn aided Michael Collins in evading British capture, further underscoring her significant contributions to Ireland’s struggle for independence and social justice.
The Artwork
This is the photograph that I used as the source for my artwork.
As with all of the Irish Revolutionaries series, I drew a detailed pen and ink line artwork first and then painted it.
The finished artwork. This was finished in 2023 and is one of a number of Irish Revolutionary artworks I have completed since the initial series that were created for the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising in 2016. I keep saying to myself that I have finished this series, but keep painting more with Elizabeth O’Farrell as the latest. There are so many heroes from 1916 who deserve more recognition, and there will be many that I simply won’t have time to paint.
