Alice Furlong
Encyclopedia
Alice Furlong was an Irish
writer, poet
and political activist who also worked on Irish publications with Douglas Hyde
(later President of Ireland).
, County Dublin
, the daughter of John Furlong, a sporting journalist. She trained as a nurse in Dr Steevens' Hospital
. In the 1890s her father was injured in a race-course accident and ended up in her ward, where he died shortly afterwards, and her mother died two months later. Her first literary contributions were to the Irish Monthly
at age 16.
In 1899 she published Roses and Rue, favourably reviewed by Stopford Brooke and others, and in 1907 Tales of Fairy Folk and Queens and Heroes. Her verse appeared in several anthologies. She contributed to several journals, including the Irish Monthly, the Weekly Freeman, Chambers's Journal
and the nationalist Shan Van Vocht, run by Alice Milligan
and Anna Johnston (Ethna Carbery
). After 1916 she started studying Irish
, and in the 1920s published poems in Irish and translated from Irish, and added the Irish Press
to the journals she contributed to.
In 1900 she was a founder-member of Inghinidhe na hÉireann
, the revolutionary women's organisation led by Maud Gonne
. She was elected a vice-president of the association, along with Jenny Wyse Power, Annie Egan and Anna Johnston.
Two of her sisters, Katherine and Mary, also wrote poetry, but died young, while another sister, Margaret, married the songwriter P. J. McCall
.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
writer, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and political activist who also worked on Irish publications with Douglas Hyde
Douglas Hyde
Douglas Hyde , known as An Craoibhín Aoibhinn , was an Irish scholar of the Irish language who served as the first President of Ireland from 1938 to 1945...
(later President of Ireland).
Life
She was born at Old Bawn, near TallaghtTallaght
Tallaght is the largest town, and county town, of South Dublin County, Ireland. The village area, dating from at least the 17th century, held one of the earliest settlements known in the southern part of the island, and one of medieval Ireland's more important monastic centres.Up to the 1960s...
, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
, the daughter of John Furlong, a sporting journalist. She trained as a nurse in Dr Steevens' Hospital
Dr Steevens' Hospital
Dr Steevens' Hospital in Dublin was one of Ireland's most distinguished eighteenth-century medical establishments...
. In the 1890s her father was injured in a race-course accident and ended up in her ward, where he died shortly afterwards, and her mother died two months later. Her first literary contributions were to the Irish Monthly
Irish Monthly
The Irish Monthly was an Irish Catholic magazine founded in Dublin, Ireland in July 1873. Until 1920 it had the sub-title A Magazine of General Literature. It was founded by Rev. Matthew Russell, S.J., , who was the editor for almost forty years from 1873...
at age 16.
In 1899 she published Roses and Rue, favourably reviewed by Stopford Brooke and others, and in 1907 Tales of Fairy Folk and Queens and Heroes. Her verse appeared in several anthologies. She contributed to several journals, including the Irish Monthly, the Weekly Freeman, Chambers's Journal
Chambers's Edinburgh Journal
Chambers's Edinburgh Journal was a weekly 16-page magazine started by William Chambers in 1832. The first edition was dated 4 February 1832, and priced at one penny. Topics included history, religion, language, and science...
and the nationalist Shan Van Vocht, run by Alice Milligan
Alice Milligan
Alice Milligan was an Irish nationalist poet and writer, active in the Gaelic League.-Life:She was born and raised a Protestant in Gortmore, near Omagh, County Tyrone. Milligan's father was the writer Seaton Milligan, antiquary and member of the RIA...
and Anna Johnston (Ethna Carbery
Ethna Carbery
Ethna Carbery was an Irish journalist, writer and poet. She is best-known for the ballad Roddy McCorley and the Song of Ciabhán; the latter was set to music by Ivor Gurney. Along with Alice Milligan she published two Irish nationalist magazines.-Life:Anna Johnston was born in Ballymena, County...
). After 1916 she started studying Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
, and in the 1920s published poems in Irish and translated from Irish, and added the Irish Press
The Irish Press
The Irish Press was an Irish national daily newspaper published by Irish Press plc between 5 September 1931 and 25 May 1995.-Foundation:...
to the journals she contributed to.
In 1900 she was a founder-member of Inghinidhe na hÉireann
Inghinidhe na hÉireann
Inghinidhe na hÉireann , abbreviated InaÉ, was a revolutionary women’s society founded by Maud Gonne on Easter Sunday 1900.Gonne was elected President of the association; Vice-Presidents were Alice Furlong, Jenny Wyse Power, Annie Egan and Anna Johnston...
, the revolutionary women's organisation led by Maud Gonne
Maud Gonne
Maud Gonne MacBride was an English-born Irish revolutionary, feminist and actress, best remembered for her turbulent relationship with William Butler Yeats. Of Anglo-Irish stock and birth, she was won over to Irish nationalism by the plight of evicted people in the Land Wars...
. She was elected a vice-president of the association, along with Jenny Wyse Power, Annie Egan and Anna Johnston.
Two of her sisters, Katherine and Mary, also wrote poetry, but died young, while another sister, Margaret, married the songwriter P. J. McCall
Patrick Joseph McCall
Patrick Joseph McCall was an Irish songwriter and poet, known mostly as the author of lyrics for popular ballads: "Follow me up to Carlow", "The Boys of Wexford", "Boolavogue, The Lowlands Low and "Kelly the Boy from Killanne".The Wexford ballads dealing with the 1798 Rising were put to music by...
.