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Kathleen Browne
Born	Kathleen Anne Browne Bridgetown, County Wexford
Died	Private nursing home, County Waterford
Nationality	Irish
Occupation(s)	Politician, Writer, Farmer, Historian, Archaeologist
Years active	1876-1943
Known for	Branch Secretary of the Cumann na nGaedheal, Member of Seanad Éireann
Criminal penalty	Being a senior member of Cumann na mBan

Browne, Kathleen Anne (1876–1943), politician and historian, was born at Bridgetown, co. Wexford, on 31 October 1876, the eldest daughter of Michael Browne, landowner and farmer, and his wife, Mary Eleanor Stafford, of Rathronan Castle, Wexford. She was educated at the Bridgetown national school and at the Loreto convent at Wexford. Her political background was strongly nationalist, her father having been an organizer in 1898 of the centenary celebrations of the United Irishmen rising and a nationalist member of the Wexford county council. (Pašeta, 2005) She is perhaps best known for her political involvement with the Easter Rising in 1916, which was an armed insurrection in Ireland, against British rule. Kathleen Anne Browne was an Irish politician, farmer, writer, historian and archaeologist, born on the 1st of October 1876. She grew up in Rathronan Castle, Bridgetown, County Wexford.

Early Life

Kathleen Anne Browne was an Irish politician, farmer, writer, historian and archaeologist. Browne was a practical farmer with a large mixed farm at her home which consisted of 200 acres. She was one of the first beet-growers and was on the executive of the Beet- Growers Association. She was a member of the Farmers Union, the local agricultural and co-operative societies and committees. She took part in a Seanad Eireann debate that took place in 1933 about a Trade Agreement between South Africa for the Promotion of Pig Production. She voted No in the debate. She was an instructor in dairying under the Department of Agriculture and lectured on dairying for seven years. Kathleen Browne was a supporter of hunting and was interested in forestry. In 1930, she went to London for a period of time and worked as a delegate for the World Poultry Congress.

Browne was also a member of the "United Irishwoman". Here, she helped promote rural industries.She was also a member of the soceity for the promotion of rural industries, the Royal Soceity of Antiquaries of Ireland and the Society of the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead. She was also on the Council of the local Historical Society and is a writer on the antiquities and social and political history of Wexford. She was also a member of the Loch Garman Co-Operative Society. Browne was a member of the Gaelic League and was the County Secretary. She has also been the Branch Secretary of the Cumann na nGaedheal and a Peace Comissioner. Kathleen Browne was a keen writer. She wrote about various topics such as history, politics, economics, feudalism and Ireland in general. Pieces of her work are available to access at the National Library of Ireland. The articles where published between December 1925 and 1937. The articles titles included " The ancient dialect of the baronies of Forth and Bargy. With a number of songs in that dialect, together with translations" and "Heraldy: its history and its laws. With a rubbing of The Whitty Monument in the ruined church of Kilmore, Co. Wexford."

Political Career

Kathleen A. Browne was elected at a by - election on 20 June 1929 to fill the vacancy due to the death of Mrs. Alice Stopford Green. She was elected by Mr. Westropp Bennett, chairman presiding. Miss. Browne was up against two others for Mrs. Green's place, Mrs. Julia A. O'Donovan and Mrs. Mary Cosgrave. The first ballot was in favour of Miss. Browne and Mrs. O' Donovan, eliminating Mrs Cosgrave. The second ballot was in favour of Kathleen and she was accordingly declared elected as a Cumann na nGaedheal member. She was re-elected for 3 years in 1931 and re-elected again in 1934 for the duration of 9 years. Her time as a member in 1934 was cut short due to the abolishment of the Free State Seanad on 29 May, 1936. During her time in the Free State Seanad, Miss. Brown took part in 53 debates for the Seanad, beginning in the year she was elected in 1929, and ending on the 16th of Janurary, 1935 where she was one of nine members appointed to serve on the special committee to which the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 1934 has been referred. She joined the Army Comrades Assosciation in 1933.

Cumman na mBan

Cumann na mBan protest outside Mountjoy Prison, July 23, 1921

Kathleen Browne was also a member of Cumann na mBan, The Irishwomen's Council. Cumann na mBan was formed in 1913 with the main goal of furthering advancements for the cause of liberating Ireland. It was established in response to the political climate of the time and the women of Cumann na mBan worked alongside the Irish Volunteers, providing assistance in arming and equipping them in times of defence and conflict. During the rising, the role of the various women in this organisation included attending the wounded; cooking; management of supplies; making beds for Volunteers; carrying and delivering dispatches; making stretchers and bandages; arranging hospital beds; manufacture of munitions; making bandages and first aid outfits and carrying arms and ammunition. The majority of Cumann na mBan members avoided imprisonment, however Kathleen Browne was one of only two women who we're imprisoned and subsequently detained in Richmond Barracks, Kilmainham Jail and Mountjoy prison. This was as a result of her having a prominent role and being a senior member in the organisation. . She was arrested and sent to jail along with Nell Ryan. The two women were held in Waterford Jail and then detained in Richmond Barracks, Mountjoy and Kilmainham Jails. . Kathleen Browne was let out of jail in the beginning of June 1916, however Nell Ryan was moved to an English Jail and detained until October of 1916 where she was then set free.

Historical Work

As well as her political work, Browne wrote on historical matters, focusing particularly on the history of Wexford. Her history of the county, published in 1927, became a standard primary school textbook. She was an acknowledged expert on the county's Yola dialect, and published widely in historical journals . Kathleen was also a founder member and writer for the Ui Ceinnsealaigh Historical Society and wrote an article titled 'Heraldry: It's History and it's Law' that was published in 'The Past: The organ of the Ui Ceinnsealaigh Historical Society', volume 3 in December 1925.

Rathronan Castle

Rathronan castle is located in the townland of Rathronan in county Wexford. Rathronan translates into Irish as Rath Ronáin (Ronan’s Ringfort) this shows evidemce of human settlement in the area for thousands of years. The Rath of ringfort however was removed during land reclamation in 1994. Rathronan castle would have been initially built using motte and bailey as they were the primary method of building in the time after the Norman settlement in Ireland after 1169. It would have consisted of a large man made earthen mound with a castle built on top using sticks woven together with a straw roof. In the 13th century this castle would have been replaced with a stone one. The Browne family received Rathronan castle from a grant of land in the parish of Mulrankin. Michael Browne lowered the tower house of Rathronan Castle in the 1870’s. Rathronan castle was used as a residence until the early 1980’s when it was deemed unsuitable to live in and was taken down.

Personal Life

Kathleen Browne became a close associate of Arthur Griffith and an active member of the Gaelic League, serving as secretary of the Wexford county committee . She lived most of her life at her 13th century family home, Rathronan Castle, which was originally occupied by Col. William Browne who mortgaged 1,000 acres in the area . Browne was strongly associated with various aspects of Wexford life, where she was an active farmer .

Death

According to her death certificate Kathleen A. Browne of Rathronan Castle, Bridgetown, Co. Wexford was a spinster and died due to cardiac failure on Saturday the 9th of October 1943. She passed in a private nursing home in Waterford at the age of 65. MCabe was present at her death.