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Kathleen Balfe (1893 – 14 September 1984) was an Irish nationalist who was a founder member of Cumann na mBan in Drogheda and the first woman member of the Drogheda corporation in 1967.

Life and work
Born Kathleen Balfe in Drogheda to Hugh and Rose Balfe in 1893. She had 9 siblings many of whom were also involved in the Irish nationalist movement. Her sister Mary was the youngest daughter and also a member of Cumann na mBan. Her brothers Hugh, Frank and Joseph joined the Irish Republican Army and were members of a Flying Column during the War of Independence. She married Vincent Dempsey who died in 1937 leaving her to raise their family with her sister's help. The Dempseys had five children, including daughters Gertie Shields, who established the campaigning group Mothers Against Drunk Driving in Ireland, and Deirdre, and sons Vincent, Aidan, and Raymond, who has been mayor of Drogheda.

Political life
She joined the Cumann na mBan in 1917. She was a regional founding member of the society and had huge involvement in it while involved. The Cumann na mBan is still active to this date. This was ultimately the beginning of her extensive political career. From 1919-1921 she was involved in the War of Independence. The role of Kathleen consisted of visiting her local Royal Irish Constabulary barracks, passing on information to prisoners and at least once, smuggled a machine gun underneath her coat to be used for an attack on the Ardee barracks, County Louth. Described as being Fine Gael to the bone, the loyal supporter ran for and was elected to her local Drogheda Council in 1967. This was a synonymous moment in Irish history as she was the first lady to be elected to the council.

She retired from politics at the age of 81 and later died in 1984.

Cumann na mBan
The Cumann na mBan was an Irish Republican women's paramilitary organisation founded on the 2nd April 1914 with the goal of organising Irish women to advance the cause of Irish liberty and to support Irish men through supplying arms for the defence of Ireland (RTE, 2014). In the War of Independence, the Cumann na mBan played vital roles, undertaking tasks such as gun running and message carrying (RTE, 2014). Kathleen Balfe was a member of the organisation, with her family also having close ties to the Irish Nationalist movement, including her sister, Mary, who was also a member of the Cumman na mBan and undertook many missions, being buried with military honours in 1975 (UL, 2016). Her brothers, Hugh, Frank and Joseph were also members of an IRA Flying Column. It was evident the desire for Irish freedom ran through the entire Balfe family, especially through Kathleen and her siblings. Balfe joined the organisation in 1917, becoming secretary (UL, 2016). Balfe would go on to play an important role in the War of Independence from 1919 to 1921. In her time with the Cumann na mBan, she encountered many of the Black and Tans and performing a multitude of missions.