The life of Bridget Dirrane

Bridget Dirrane may have been born around 1896, her life spanning three centuries. She was born on the Aran Island of Inis Mór. One famous visitor she met was Padraig Pearse, the republican, activist and poet.
Bridget left Inis Mór and became housekeeper to Father Matt Ryan, a supporter of the land league. In 1919, the year of the beginning of the war of independence, she began to train as a nurse in Dublin.
She also nursed people in the community and on one occasion the house was raided by the black and tans. She was arrested but said to be released after nine days. One abiding memory of the war of independence was the execution of Kevin Barry. She took part in a vigil outside the prison where he was hanged. “We heard the deathbell and then there was silence”.
Bridget opposed the treaty and the civil war caused her great anguish.
In 1927, at the age of 23 she emigrated to the US, marrying a man who had been her neighbour in Inis Mór, Edward Dirrane, known as Ned, in 1932. Times were hard. Ned died suddenly in 1940.
Bridget worked as a nurse during the second world war. Later, campaigning for John F. Kennedy in many elections. In 1966, at age of 39, she returned to Inis Mór and married Patrick Dirrane: Among Bridget’s visitors is said to be Edward Kennedy.