11 February 1999 Edition
Fógraí bháis: Rita McGlynn
Republicans were saddened to learn of the death at her home in Dublin of Rita McGlynn on Sunday 31 January. She was 82.
A life-long republican activist Rita was known and loved for many years by republicans throughout Ireland and abroad.
Up to the age of 79 Rita still visited her son Pat in English prisons before he was transferred to Portlaoise in 1996.
Margaret (Rita) McSweeney, was born at Mary Street, Dungarvan, County Waterford on 30 March 1916. Her father Patrick McSweeney, master tailor, emigrated to Liverpool in 1916. The children remained in Waterford and went to stay with an aunt in Old Parish. This was at the height of the Tan War 1919-21 and the Civil War 1922-23. Rita, her brother and sisters often witnessed the brutality of this era.
At the age of 10 the family were united once again when the children joined their father in Liverpool. This was an exciting challenge - coming from rural Ireland to the hustle of such a large English city. However, these were very happy years in Rita's life. She became actively involved in the Irish community in Liverpool and made many life-long friends. She joined Clan na Gael and later Cumann na mBan. In 1939 she was actively involved in the England campaign which led to her joining the courageous band of Irish women political prisoners in Aylesbury prison, England.
After her release in 1943 she was deported to Ireland, separated from her family and friends. She never looked back on this period with regret or bitterness but rather saw it as a life-forming experience.
Imprisonment and the suffering it caused to families (her own sister, Vera, died while she was in jail) was the foundation for her life-long work with prisoners and in particular their families. From 1948 up to the day she died she was actively involved in prisoners' welfare organisations being a member of the Central Committee of An Cumann Cabhrach since its foundation in 1953.
Rita married Dublin republican Paddy McGlynn in 1951. Their home in Phibsboro from that day to this has been a welcome place for any republican and many an activist has become more than familiar with the ever-open green back door.
Rita had many qualities, being kind, a good listener, a good organiser. She was also gentle, discreet and unjudgemental. She offered and gave practical and down-to-earth assistance to numerous prisoners, their dependants, and to those actively engaged in the struggle.
Even in her old age when others might have retired, Rita remained involved and campaigned on prisoner issues.
The funeral of Rita McGlynn took place on Tuesday, 2 February from St Joseph's Church, Berkely Road, Dublin to Glasnevin Cemetery and as well as her family and many friends, neighbours and realtives, it was attended by republicans from all parts of Ireland.
The graveside proceedings were chaired by Dublin Sinn Fein Councillor Christy Burke who introduced Sinn Fein Vice President and Six Counties Assembly member Pat Doherty to deliver the oration.
Pat said that it was a honour and a privilege to speak by the graveside of Rita McGlynn. He spoke of Rita's assistance during the hard days of the campaign throughout the 1970s and `80s and said that during those years there was not a PDF or Green Cross Committee in Ireland that didn't rely on Rita McGlynn.
He said that Rita had two families- her own and the Republican Movement and she never neglected either. He said it was difficult to express how solid and how good a republican Rita McGlynn was and that she is irreplaceable. He added that the only fitting tribute to Rita would be the release of all political prisoners, British withdrawal from Ireland and the re-unification of our country.
Concluding the proceedings Christy Burke spoke for many Dublin republicans when he paid his own heartfelt tribute to Rita and introduced musician Gavin Whelan from Dublin who played the Lonesome Boatman.
Rita McGlynn is survived by her sons Pat, Sean and Ciaran and daughters Josephine and Rita. The Republican Movement extends sympathy to the family and to Rita's many friends. I measc Laochra na nGael go raibh a anam dilis.
A life-long republican activist Rita was known and loved for many years by republicans throughout Ireland and abroad.
Up to the age of 79 Rita still visited her son Pat in English prisons before he was transferred to Portlaoise in 1996.
Margaret (Rita) McSweeney, was born at Mary Street, Dungarvan, County Waterford on 30 March 1916. Her father Patrick McSweeney, master tailor, emigrated to Liverpool in 1916. The children remained in Waterford and went to stay with an aunt in Old Parish. This was at the height of the Tan War 1919-21 and the Civil War 1922-23. Rita, her brother and sisters often witnessed the brutality of this era.
At the age of 10 the family were united once again when the children joined their father in Liverpool. This was an exciting challenge - coming from rural Ireland to the hustle of such a large English city. However, these were very happy years in Rita's life. She became actively involved in the Irish community in Liverpool and made many life-long friends. She joined Clan na Gael and later Cumann na mBan. In 1939 she was actively involved in the England campaign which led to her joining the courageous band of Irish women political prisoners in Aylesbury prison, England.
After her release in 1943 she was deported to Ireland, separated from her family and friends. She never looked back on this period with regret or bitterness but rather saw it as a life-forming experience.
Imprisonment and the suffering it caused to families (her own sister, Vera, died while she was in jail) was the foundation for her life-long work with prisoners and in particular their families. From 1948 up to the day she died she was actively involved in prisoners' welfare organisations being a member of the Central Committee of An Cumann Cabhrach since its foundation in 1953.
Rita married Dublin republican Paddy McGlynn in 1951. Their home in Phibsboro from that day to this has been a welcome place for any republican and many an activist has become more than familiar with the ever-open green back door.
Rita had many qualities, being kind, a good listener, a good organiser. She was also gentle, discreet and unjudgemental. She offered and gave practical and down-to-earth assistance to numerous prisoners, their dependants, and to those actively engaged in the struggle.
Even in her old age when others might have retired, Rita remained involved and campaigned on prisoner issues.
The funeral of Rita McGlynn took place on Tuesday, 2 February from St Joseph's Church, Berkely Road, Dublin to Glasnevin Cemetery and as well as her family and many friends, neighbours and realtives, it was attended by republicans from all parts of Ireland.
The graveside proceedings were chaired by Dublin Sinn Fein Councillor Christy Burke who introduced Sinn Fein Vice President and Six Counties Assembly member Pat Doherty to deliver the oration.
Pat said that it was a honour and a privilege to speak by the graveside of Rita McGlynn. He spoke of Rita's assistance during the hard days of the campaign throughout the 1970s and `80s and said that during those years there was not a PDF or Green Cross Committee in Ireland that didn't rely on Rita McGlynn.
He said that Rita had two families- her own and the Republican Movement and she never neglected either. He said it was difficult to express how solid and how good a republican Rita McGlynn was and that she is irreplaceable. He added that the only fitting tribute to Rita would be the release of all political prisoners, British withdrawal from Ireland and the re-unification of our country.
Concluding the proceedings Christy Burke spoke for many Dublin republicans when he paid his own heartfelt tribute to Rita and introduced musician Gavin Whelan from Dublin who played the Lonesome Boatman.
Rita McGlynn is survived by her sons Pat, Sean and Ciaran and daughters Josephine and Rita. The Republican Movement extends sympathy to the family and to Rita's many friends. I measc Laochra na nGael go raibh a anam dilis.