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Seán O'Sullivan , Irish, 1906-1964

Title

Portrait of Róisín Walsh

Date1952

MediumCharcoal with white highlights on paper

Dimensions

36 x 28.5 cm

Signedlower right (in charcoal): Seán O'Sullivan R.H.A. 1952

Credit LinePresented, Mary Paula Wakelin Walsh, niece of Roisin Walsh, 2017

Object numberNGI.2017.10

DescriptionRóisín Walsh (1889-1949), from the Clogher Valley in Co. Tyrone, was born into a staunchly nationalist Catholic family. A gifted linguist and scholar, she received the best education then available to women. She started her career as a teacher, lecturing in Irish and English at St. Mary's Training College in Belfast, but later became a librarian. A committed Republican, she joined the Belfast branch of Cumann na mBan on its foundation by Nora Connolly in 1915. She was involved in smuggling ammunition and supplies to the Volunteers Clogher Company in Easter Week 1916. In late 1922, in order to avoid arrest and prosecution following RUC raid on her family home, she moved to Dublin, where her public library career commenced. Active in the movement towards the professionalism in public libraries, she was elected to the first executive board of the newly formed Library Association of Ireland in 1928. By 1931, Walsh's outstanding credentials secured her the historic appointment of Dublin city's first Chief Librarian, a post she served with great distinction until her death in office in 1949, aged 60.
ProvenancePresented, Mary Paula Wakelin Walsh, niece of Roisin Walsh, 2017