Margaret Mary Pearse
| Margaret Mary Pearse | |
|---|---|
| Born |
24 August 1878 27 Great Brunswick Street, Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 7 November 1968 (aged 90) Linden Convalescent Home, Dublin, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Other names | Maggie |
| Occupation | Politician and French teacher |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Parent(s) | James Pearse, Margaret Pearse (née Brady) |
Margaret Mary Pearse (24 August 1878 – 7 November 1968) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and teacher. She was the sister of Patrick and Willie Pearse, two of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising.
Margaret Mary Pearse was born at 27 Great Brunswick Street, in Dublin, the eldest child of James Pearse and Margaret Pearse née Brady. A family friend, Kate Brady, was present at the time of her birth. She grew up in cramped living conditions as often the other rooms in the house we rented by subtenants, forcing the Pearse family to share one room. During her childhood, Margaret was very friendly with James Vincent, her half-brother from her father’s previous marriage. Their close relationship did not follow into adulthood. She developed a close bond with her father, more so than with her mother. She was educated at the Holy Faith Convent in Glasnevin. After leaving school, she trained as a teacher. Margaret did not enter paid employment after receiving her teacher training but was still interested in education. In 1905 she travelled to Belgium with her brother to study the workings of the bilingual education system and to improve her French. She tried to set up her own school for infants in 1907 in the family home on Great Brunswick Street and was constantly encouraged by her two brothers, whom assisted her in teaching on many occasions. Her younger brother Willie provided art work for the classes to inspire the students.
Margaret helped to found St Enda's School with her brothers Patrick and Willie in 1908. Margaret, along with her mother Mrs. Pearse, played an intricate part in making the school a comfortable atmosphere for the students. The school's prospectus lists Margaret as the Mistress of Preparatory Schools between 1909-1910 and as the Assistant Mistress between 1910-1911. Following the executions of her brothers in the aftermath of the Easter Rising, Margaret continued to run St Enda's School. She was the matron and housekeeper for the school, while her mother was the headmaster. The school began to experience financial difficulties in 1916 after the rising and was facing closure. Trips to the USA were made to raise funds for the school. The school was saved mostly by donations and continued to operate even though it was operating at a loss. Margaret was directly involved with the school as she was a French teacher to junior pupils and would often write to them to keep in contact during the holidays. During the period when the school experienced staff shortages, Margaret become even more involved with the school's affairs. Her involvement helped to feed her busy and hardworking nature. In 1926, Margaret went to America on a lecture tour with the intention of raising more funds for the school to cover its running costs. Margaret and her mother constantly fought over how to spend the money and eventually they raised enough to buy the school grounds. Margaret's mother had planned to leave St Enda's to the state in her will. However, due to legal complications, Margaret Mary inherited St.Enda's after Mrs Pearse's death in 1932. St Enda's closed in 1935 and Margaret continued to lived in the Hermitage.
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