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to its emerging freedom.
    She threw herself, wholeheartedly, into any cause she espoused and was involved in commemorative celebrations for both Maud Gonne MacBride and Dr Lynn. It has to be said that most of her causes, as well as being philanthropic, were also anti-British: she argued in an article in An Phoblacht that Ireland had shown India the way to freedom, and she marched with Maud Gonne MacBride, both of them carrying banners, with the 1932 Indian–Irish League; during the Second World War she was involved in homing about 400 German children in Ireland, to save them from British bombs.
    Her son Finian thought of her not only with affection but also with pride. He had lived with her in poverty as well as in better times, and both he and his Aunt Kate had helped her lack of economic worldliness.
    Sidney Gifford-Czira died on 15 September 1974, the last of the Temple Villas Giffords, a determined republican to the very end. [5]
    May they all rest in God’s peace, those with their pygmy army and also their mightier opponents from whom they wrestled Ireland’s long-sought freedom. Their entrances and exits, all of them – now a part of time.
    Notes
    [ 1 ] NGDPs.
    [ 2 ] The work of the late Una McDonnell Watters.
    [ 3 ] Robert Monks, Liam Ó Laoghaire Archives, National Museum.
    [ 4 ] NGDPs.
    [ 5 ] The material in this chapter derives, almost exclusively, from NGDPs and from an interview with Finian Czira.

Appendix - Photos

    Isabella Burton Gifford, the mother of the Giffords.

    Helen Ruth (Nellie) Gifford, taken in early 1917.

    Ada Gifford.

    Catherine Anna (Kate) Gifford, the eldest of the sisters.

    Sidney Gifford, who was commonly known by her pen-name ‘John’, with her son Finian in 1917.

    Grace Gifford in the garden of Larkfield House, where she had been offered refuge by Countess Plunkett.

    Joseph Plunkett, one of the leaders of the 1916 rebellion and husband of Grace.

    Count and Countess Plunkett (seated in the back of the car), parents of Joseph Plunkett.

    Thomas MacDonagh, husband of Muriel, who was executed for his part in the 1916 rebellion.

    Muriel and Thomas MacDonagh, with their first-born, Donagh.

    Barbara and Donagh MacDonagh, left parentless after 1917.

    Grace (left) and Nellie with Nellie’s daughter Maeve.

    Gabriel Gifford, taken in America. On the back of the photograph he suggests that he looks like Winston Churchill.

    â€˜John’ Gifford and Maud Gonne MacBride speaking on the radio in 1949.

    â€˜John’ Gifford, Helena Molony and Dr Kathleen Lynn.

    â€˜John’ Gifford telling the story of the republican movement to a young audience. Courtesy of The Irish Press.

Acknowledgements
    I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who helped me with the writing of this book. To Maeve Donnelly for lending me the papers of her mother, Nellie Gifford-Donnelly.
    To Alan Hayes of Arlen house for his great help and support always. To Jim Larkin and Madeleine Cooke for their excellent research.
    To the staff of the National Library, Niamh O’Sullivan, archivist at Kilmainham Gaol, the staff of the Military Archives in Cathal Brugha barracks and the Gilbert Library, Sister Maria Consilio, librarian of St Mary’s Secondary School, Glasnevin, and the staff at Ballymun and Drumcondra local County Council libraries, the Mormon Family Archives, the Church of Ireland Records Office and Brian Crowley at St Enda’s Archives.
    My thanks also to Dr Jacinta Prunty, David Edwards of the Erasmus Smith Trust, Simon Kelliher BL, Dermot Bolger, Margaret Byrne, Maureen Kerr, Ann Ryder, Eithne Diggins, Greta Ó Lochlainn, Padraig Ó Baoghail, Dymphna Scott Murray, Frazia Scott Statham, Walter and Michael Scott, Robert Monks of the Liam Ó Laoghaire Archives, Father William King PP, Jonathan Williams, Peter and Margaret Brittain, and all the patient staff at Mercier Press.
    Thank you also to the staff at Beck n’ Call Secretarial Services,