Margaret Broderick Nicholson seemingly was a cumann na mBan commander in Galway between 1917-1922, cumann na mBan being an Irish republican womens’ paramilitary organisation formed in 1914. According to a report the women in Galway helped the men with drills, gave first aid lectures and were known to disturb British recruitment meetings by singing nationalist songs.
Margaret reportedly kept an eye on ric patrols and carried despatches. According to news, in 1920 the royal Irish constabulary and the black and tans doused her family home with petrol and set it on fire, but neighbours are believed to have helped put the fire out. Another time the black and tans cut of all her hair to the scalp. She later said they had English accents. She said she had learned that the ric had pointed her out to the black and tans. This followed a fracas which happened one day when she was marching through a field with the men and the ric arrested the presiding officer.