Lillie Connolly was an Irish socialist and trade union organiser. She was the wife of James Connolly, the Irish revolutionary who was involved in the 1916 Easter Rising.
Lillie Connolly ( Reynolds; 1867 or 1868 – 22 January 1938) was an Irish socialist and trade union organiser. She was the wife of James Connolly, the Irish revolutionary who was involved in the 1916 Easter Rising.
Early life
The year of Connolly's birth remains uncertain but it is believed that she was born in 1867 or 1868 in Carnew, in County Wicklow, Lillie Agnes Reynolds. Her family was Protestant. Her father was John, a farm labourer, and Margaret Reynolds ( Newman). Connolly was the fourth child in the family and she had an older sister named Maggie who was born in 1861, and identical twin brothers, Johnny and George who were born in 1863. When her father died, the family moved to Rathmines, Dublin.
Education and career
Connolly was a member of the Girls Friendly Society in the Church of Ireland. This society, organised by the church itself, was set up to help girls particularly from rural Ireland to find some sort of employment. This organisation found Connolly work as a domestic servant with William and Anne Wilson in Dublin. Mr Wilson was a stockbroker and notary public. He and his family lived at 35 Merrion Square East, Dublin. During the time that Connolly worked for this family, she rose from her position as a maid to that of a governess to the couple's younger children. In 1887 or 1888, Connolly met James Connolly who at that time was in the British Army stationed in Ireland. They corresponded for a number of years after James returned to Scotland, and Connolly sent money to James to support him and his family.
Family life
