Elizabeth O'Farrell
| Elizabeth O'Farrell | |
|---|---|
| Born | Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | Bray, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Occupation | Midwife, Nurse |
| Known for | The delivery of the Surrender |
Elizabeth O'Farrell (Irish: Éilís Ní Fhearghail; 5 November 1884 – 25 June 1957) was an Irish nurse and member of Cumann na mBan, best known for delivering the surrender in the Easter Rising of 1916.
Elizabeth O’Farrell was born on the 5th of November 1884 in City Quay Dublin, she was the daughter of Christopher O'Farrell a dock labourer and Margaret Kenneah a housekeeper. She was educated by the sisters of mercy. Her father died when she was young and she was sent to work. She took a job in Armstrong's, a printers in Amiens Street. She was a member of the Sacred Heart and Total Abstinence sodalities. After education she became a midwife and joined the national maternity hospital Holles street. She was a part of the Gaelic League and became fluent in Irish. In 1906 she joined Inghinidhe na hÉireann alongside lifelong friend Julia Grenan . She also then joined Cumnan na mBan the women's branch of the Irish volunteers after its establishment in 1914.
O'Farrell acted as a dispatcher before and during the Rising, delivering bulletins and instructions to the rebel outposts around Dublin. She was one of three women, including Winifred Carney, who remained in the General Post Office, Dublin until the end of the Rising. Along with her lifelong friend and fellow nurse, Julia Grenan, she cared for the wounded including James Connolly. At 12.45 pm on Saturday 29 April, O'Farrell was handed a Red Cross insignia and a white flag and asked to deliver the surrender to the British military. She emerged into heavy fire on Moore Street which abated when her white flag was recognised.
O'Farrell was taken to Brigadier General William Lowe who sent her back to Patrick Pearse at number 16 Moore Street with a demand for unconditional surrender. Pearse agreed and, accompanied by O'Farrell, surrendered in person to General Lowe. Though partly obscured by Pearse, she may be seen in a press photograph taken at the moment of the surrender. The apparent removal of her figure in many subsequent versions of the photograph has given rise to much speculation.
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