4 Irish Ladies History Has Ignored

1. Brigid of Kildare (c. 450–525) Born in County Louth, Ireland

Brigid of Kildare is a saint and not just because she had to deal with her noble father repeatedly trying to marry her off to men like the King of Ulster.

No, Brigid is Ireland’s only recognized female patron saint, and she’s known in folklore and legend as the goddess of poetry, spring, healing, and smithwork. Not a lot can be verified about her, but we know that she started a monastery that welcomed all and became a haven for women who wanted an alternative to forced marriages through a life of education, independence, and compassion.

As committed as she was to her faith, she was known to become bored and fall asleep during sermons, even those of the famous St. Patrick. He reportedly caught her sleeping during one of his sermons, and when she woke up, rewarded her with a smile.

Fun fact! Legend has it that she was also Ireland’s first female bishop and that she could brew a heavenly mug of beer.

2. Margaret O’Carroll (c. 1400–1451 ) Born in Eile, County Offaly, Ireland

I don’t know why we use the term “Renaissance Man” when Margaret O’Carroll proved a long time ago that there’s nothing a woman can’t do.

She accomplished so much it’s hard to know where to start. She wasn’t simply a medieval queen (which is no small feat), she was queen during a time of war, conquest, and industry. She brokered peace during wartime with the English by negotiating a release of hostages on both sides, and she was the driving force behind the developments of bridges and highways.

She was also known as “Margaret the Hospitable” since she invited artists and the poor to take part in grand literary festivals.

Fun fact! She took a dangerous voyage to Spain where she was part of a small group that survived perils such as illnesses and shipwrecks.

4. Grace O’Malley (c. 1530–1603) Born in County Mayo, Ireland

Honestly, the history books probably would have gotten O’Malley all wrong, anyway. The story of the only daughter of an Irish chieftain who took up the family business of seafaring, commandeered a ship right after giving birth, took revenge on the people who killed her lover, and went toe-to-toe with Queen Elizabeth herself — well — that’s the kind of story better suited for an epic tale anyway.

In addition to being a fierce warrior pirate queen, O’Malley challenged political and social norms by becoming educated (she spoke Latin, English, and her native Irish), and strategically marrying men to position herself as a leader in the community and store away her dowries. She famously demanded one of her husbands, Richard ‘the Iron’ Bourke, divorce her by locking him out of his castle and telling him, “I dismiss you.” Strangely enough, the pair reconciled and stayed together for almost 20 years.

And if you think she sounds a little cold-hearted, the story of how she fought for her son, Theobold, after he was kidnapped and charged with treason will assure you that O’Malley fought hard and loved even harder.

When she heard that Theobold could be put to death for treason and her appeals to the court by letter went unanswered, she snuck into court and confronted Queen Elizabeth herself. The two spoke to each other in Latin since it was a common language between them, and many who witnessed the encounter reported a mutual respect between the two women who defied men and society. Elizabeth not only released Theobold, but when she commissioned a map of Ireland, she made sure O’Malley was named as chieftain of Mayo.

Fun fact! O’Malley and Elizabeth’s connection gets eerier. They both died in 1603.

3. Dr. James Barry (c. 1789–1865) Born in County Cork, Ireland

The life of Dr. James Barry, born Margaret Bulky, is the stuff Hollywood only wishes it could capture. His story has everything: survival of family abuse, stolen identities, and social reform through the work of a most dedicated medical mind.

Margaret Bulky was born in Cork County, Ireland. Her upbringing was humble, but her parents were present, and she had a relatively normal childhood. Unfortunately, when she was a teenager, it’s believed that an uncle raped her, she had a child who was raised by her mother, and she grew restless to travel and to learn.

She visited London with her mother, and they spent time with her uncle, James Barry, and his friends. His friends noticed Margaret’s mind and passion for medicine, and even though women didn’t receive a formal education at the time, and certainly didn’t perform medical procedures, they had a hand in securing a new identity for her after James died — his identity, to be exact.

Even though she faced skepticism that she wasn’t old enough to study medicine and take exams, she remained committed to her new identity as James Barry and went on to serve as a doctor in the military. Dr. Barry was one of the first to perform a successful cesarean section where both mother and baby survived, he was outspoken in his disapproval of sanitary conditions in prisons and asylums, and he treated rich, poor, colonists, and slaves.

Dr. Barry requested that his body be left clothed and unwashed upon his death, but his wishes were ignored, and it was then discovered he had female anatomy. Dr. Barry’s doctor, Major McKinnon, who signed the death certificate, said it was “none of my business” whether Dr. James Barry was male or female.

Fun fact! Dr. Barry was known for his temper and was said to once have thrown bottles at Florence Nightingale.