Margaret Ward (1) (1950–)

This is a very comprehensive biography of a significant Irish historical figure. It is very apparent that the author admirers Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington greatly and while I feel that at times she is not as critical of her muse as she should be in a biography it is far removed from hagiography and I would highly recommend it. It is very useful for providing a social history of the Ireland through which Hanna lived and also providing a history of early Irish feminism. There is an excellent biography of Francis Sheehy-Skeffington in the book also which would appeal to many people. One aspect of the book that required more research, in my opinion, was that of Hanna’s time in Fianna Fáil. Donnacha O Beachain’s recent “Destiny of the Soldiers” has found how after the death of Countess Markievicz the party was going to select Hanna as the candidate for the subsequent by-election. Had she entered national politics with Fianna Fáil, and possibly become a Minister, it would have been interesting to see what contribution she could have made but this is only speculative. As Ward has demonstrated in the book Sheehy-Skeffington remained consistent to her beliefs to the end.… (meer)