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Lucy Agnes Smyth Byrne (b. 1882 - d. 1972) was an officer in Cumann na mBan, an Irish republican women's paramilitary organisation, during the time of the 1916 Easter Rising. She played a prominent role in the organisation as she was the section leader of its Central branch, and eventually in later years became its 1st Lieutenant.

Early Life
Smyth was born in 1882 in Dublin City. She was brought up at the residence of house 76 Eccles Street, Inns Quay, Dublin. Her father Thomas Smyth was brought up in Dublin. He was a law stationer. When he died Smyth’s brother James Leo became head of the house. Her mother Sarah, was a housewife. She was brought up in Enniskillen. Smyth had three sisters and one brother. Her sisters were called Sarah Jane, Mary and Margaret Winifred. Her brother WM Thos. Smyth was a Roman Catholic and a member of the local parish of St. George in North Dublin. When she moved to the residence of 49.4 in Rutland Square, West Rotunda, Dublin after her father died she became a member of the local St. Mary’s Parish in Rotunda West, Dublin. Smyth was also a fluent Irish speaker according to the 1911 census. At the time of the 1911 her occupation was a typist.

Thomas F. Byrne and Smyth married on April 28, 1919. Shortly after they married they moved to Upper Eccles Street opposite the Mater Hospital. Early in 1920, Smyth and Byrne's first child died after a raid by the Black and Tans when Byrne was arrested and jailed. The couple were involved in the War of Independence. Her daughter Sheila wrote regarding her birth, "I should have been born in 1922, but my mother fell under the cat and I came early".

In a witness statement by Elizabeth Colbert, sister of Conn Colbert who was executed in 1916 she describes her encounter with Smyth and her brothers love for Smyth. After her brother’s execution, on one occasion when Elizabeth visited her house, Smyth showed her the letters she had received from Colbert. Elizabeth then quickly learned of her brother’s love for Smyth, he described her as ‘the nicest girl in Dublin’. Elizabeth then claimed that her brother would have married her had he not been executed. Father O’Mahony, a local parish priest informed Smyth of a package that Conn Colbert had handed him to be delivered to Smyth. Smyth never received the package and went with Elizabeth to see Fr. O’Mahony. He told Smyth that a young girl had offered to deliver it to her, he presumed she was a member of Cumann na mBan and that her last name was "Mc Namara". However, the parcel was never found as they were unable to trace its whereabouts. This was a big disappointment for both Smyth and Elizabeth Colbert. Conn Colbert was a rival of Smyth's husband, Tom Byrne.

Role in Cumann na mBan and the Rising
Cumann na mBan (Women's League) was formed in April 1913, and was known widely as the female version of the Irish volunteers. In 1913, a number of women decided to hold a meeting in Wynne's Hotel for the purpose of discussing the possibility of forming an organization for women who would work in conjunction with the recently formed Irish Volunteers. Cumann na mBan was the main female support organization working for the success of Sinn Féin in the election. On April 4, Cumann na mBan was launched at a meeting held in the Pillar Room in the Mansion House.

During the years 1914-1921, Smyth was heavily involved in the activities of Cumann na mBan. On Easter Monday in 1916, Smyth aged 34 at the time, played a dangerous role of carrying the arms from a house prior to it being raided. The following day she was given the task of carrying vital messages to the GPO while also being a member of the first aid department

On the 23rd April 1916, the Military Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood finalized arrangements for the Easter Rising, it included Cumann na mBan, along with the Irish Volunteers and Irish Citizen Army, into the Army of the Irish Republic. Patrick Pearse was appointed overall Commandant-General and James Connolly as Commandant-General of the Dublin Division. The day of the rising, forty Cumann na mBan members including Smyth herself entered the General Post Office (GPO) on O'Connell Street, Dublin with their male counterparts. They came to the site armed.

As a member in the first aid movement, she attended to the wounded in the Hibernian Bank and the GPO. Smyth attended to the injured in the GPO and Hibernian Bank. Smyth continued to risk her life by helping carry injured Volunteers to Jervis Street Hospital despite the ongoing fighting being in very close proximity. She also nursed James Connolly.

When the call came to rise, Byrne and 15 volunteers in Maynooth marched to Dublin. Their feet were swollen from their exertion and Smyth offered him a bowl of warm water to ease the pain. Later Byrne gave his future wife his watch and money for safe-keeping.

Smyth's daughter Sheila O'Leary was one of the few people, and probably the only one left alive, whose parents were both in the GPO during Easter 1916. Smyth was awarded four medals, as well as the medal given to survivors on the 50th anniversary. Smyth was considered as an 'ordinary' person who did extraordinary things.

Death
Smyth died at the age of 90, on November 1972. She is buried in Glasnevin cemetery in, Dublin. She is buried along with her husband and son. Tom Byrne died 7 September 1962 aged 85 years old. Myles Byrne died in 1968 at the age of 41.

References[edit source | edit]

 * 1) Jump up ^
 * 2) Jump up ^ "Stories of 1916". 13 September 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.