Rosie Hackett recalls how she was the first woman to see the Proclamation of the Irish Republic.
She was the only woman present in Liberty Hall at the printing of the Proclamation
Prior to 1916 Rosie Hackett worked as a clerk for the Irish Transport and General Workers Union. In the week leading up to the Rising she had been bringing messages to and from Liberty Hall for James Connolly. On 22 April 1916 she became the first woman to the see the Proclamation of the Irish Republic being printed at Liberty Hall. Not even Countess Markievicz had been given such a privilege.
When I went in there was three men in the printing, in where the machine was, the machine room. One man walked over and shook hands with me congratulated me. I was the first that was allowed in to the printing during the Proclamation being done. Madam herself was kicking up a row because she wasn't let in.
Rosie Hackett was a founder member of the Irish Women Workers’ Union and was also a member of the women’s section of the Irish Citizen Army.
'Women of the Revolution' tells the story of eight women in Easter Week 1916. The women include Nora Connolly O'Brien, Rosie Hackett, Eily O'Hanrahan O'Reilly, Leslie Bean De Barra, Margaret Skinnider, Eilís Bean Ui Chonaill, Phyllis Bean Uí Cheallaigh, and Sheila Grennan. The programme was produced and presented by Donncha Ó Dulaing.
'Women of the Revolution' was broadcast on 12 April 1971.
