Freedom honour for Markievicz is recalled 100 years later at gathering

FOLLOWING her surrender in the 1916 Rising in Dublin, Sligo’s Countess Markievicz was sentenced to death along with the other leaders.

Fearing a reaction if they executed a woman the sentence was commuted to penal servitude for life but she was released from Aylesbury jail in England following the general amnesty of 1917 and returned to Sligo to a rapturous welcome.

It was during this visit she was awarded the Freedom of the Borough. To mark the 100th anniversary of this, an event was held IT Sligo at which guest speaker, local historian, Joe McGowan outlined the life and times of the rebel leader.

The Key to Freedom event held in Institute of Technology was hosted by 3rd Year Tourism students.

The talk by Mr McGowan brought the legacy of Countess Markievicz to life through a detailed account of her life backed up by some inspirational photos. Mr McGowan, used his knowledge and his book ‘ Countess Markievicz - The People’s Countess’ to educate the audience about Madame Markievicz.

The audience was transported back to 1917 where life was very different to today and where Sligo was in decline after the Rising and how today the town is reliving the same down turn but this time due to the global recession.

On April 1st 1919 year following her appointment to the First Irish Dail as Secretary for Labour she achieved the distinction of becoming the first woman Cabinet Minister in the world.

Having dispensed her possessions to the poor of Dublin she died penniless in an open ward in a public hospital on July 15th 1927 aged 59. Although her contribution to the cherished dream of a free Ireland was immeasurable, the Freestate Government refused her the recognition of a State funeral.

The organising event team at the IT said it hoped there would be further similar events in the future to allow the next generation remember how Sligo had an important part to play in the shaping of Ireland’s history.