Grace Eveleen Gifford

A brief biography

Grace Eveleen Gifford was born March 4, 1888 at her family home in Rathmines, an affluent Dublin suburb. She was the second youngest of twelve children. Her father, Frederick Gifford, was a wealthy solicitor (attorney) and a Catholic. Isabella Burton Gifford, her mother, was Protestant. The daughters were raised in their mother's faith and the sons were raised as Catholics.

In 1904, at the age of sixteen, Grace entered the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art, where her talents for caricature were soon discovered. One of Grace's instructors was the well-known artist, William Orphen, who considered her one of his best students and often sketched her portrait. One of his paintings of Grace was included in his series titled "Young Ireland".

Among Grace's classmates was Willie Pearse, Padraic's younger brother, who was training to be a sculptor.

After spending 1907-08 studying at the Slade School of Art in London, she returned to Dublin to work as an illustrator and caricaturist. Click here to see some of Grace's art. Since work for an artist was difficult to find, Grace considered emigrating to America but decided against doing so.

Grace's younger sister, Sydney Gifford Czira, began her writing career by submitting articles to Arthur Griffith's newspaper, Sinn Fein. (The name was later applied to the political party.) Through another Irish journalist, Mrs. Dryhurst, the Gifford sisters were introduced to future leaders of the 1916 Rising, such as Constance Markievicz, Thomas MacDonagh (who married Grace's sister, Muriel), Padraic Pearse and Maud Gonne.

During this time, Grace became even more aware of the deplorable living conditions forced upon many citizens of Dublin. In the early 1900s, Dublin slums were considered the worst in Europe. Grace and her sisters began working with several groups founded to help improve the lives of the Irish poor, including the Daughters of Erin founded by Maud Gonne. The Gifford sisters also assisted with supplying school meals for inner-city children, a project instigated by James Connolly, then a Labor leader, and strongly supported by Maud Gonne.

The sisters also became strong supporters of the Irish Women's Franchise League, a militant organization working to obtain voting rights for women. In 1911, Grace was part of a group of women protesting outside City Hall against a planned "Loyal Address" from Dublin Corporation to King George V and Queen Mary.

Mrs. Dryhurst, the journalist who introduced Grace and her sisters to many of the burgeoning Irish political and social movements and its leaders, also introduced Grace to her future husband. The introduction took place in the winter of 1914-15 on the steps of St. Enda's School, established by scholars Padraic Pearse and Thomas MacDonagh to educate young Irish men of the importance of their own culture along with more traditional studies. Joe Plunkett, fluent in several languages, took Irish language lessons from Thomas and maintained close friendships with Thomas and Padraic.

Grace was deeply interested in Catholicism and often attended the Pro-Cathedral, located in a poor area of Dublin. She was impressed with the faith and devotion shown by the parishioners, in spite of the poverty most of them endured. While growing up as a Protestant, Grace had attended the prosperous Church of the Holy Trinity in Rathmines. Her opinion of its congregation was that they were more intent on showing off their fine clothes and making social connections than seeking spiritual guidance.

Joe's devout Catholicism and Grace's strong desire to learn more about the Catholic faith formed the basis for their friendship, which developed into love. Joe also came from a prominent Dublin family, whose lineage included the Earls of Fingall and Dunsany in County Meath. There were both Protestant and Catholic branches of the Plunkett family. Another ancestor was Archbishop Oliver Plunkett, who was martyred in London in 1681 after being falsely accused of involvement in the Titus Oates conspiracy. He was venerated as a Roman Catholic saint in 1975.

Joe's father, George Plunkett, was a Papal Count and a barrister. Count Plunkett was also Director of the National Museum of Science and Art. He had strongly supported Charles Parnell and, for a time, had hoped for a political career. Count Plunkett wrote for nationalist and cultural newspapers, collected Irish music and lectured to various cultural organizations. He served as secretary of the Society for the Preservation of the Irish Language, which later became the Gaelic League. The family was actively involved in Nationalist and Union movements. In 1915, Count Plunkett joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood, taking his oath from Joe.

Joe received his secondary education at Catholic schools in both Dublin and Paris, developing a special interest in Catholic philosophy and the mystical writings of the Church. While attending the English Jesuit School in Lancashire, Joe received military training from the Officers' Training Corps.

At the time he met Grace, Joe was actively involved in the planning of an armed insurrection against British rule of Ireland while serving on the executive of the Irish Volunteers. The Volunteers, originally formed to defend Ireland's neutrality against a possible war in Europe, became one of the primary forces behind the Irish fight for freedom. Since England was occupied with World War I, an armed battle was planned in Dublin that the leaders hoped would lead to the Home Rule Act finally being passed.

Many members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood joined the Volunteers and began planning the final stages of the Rising and drafting the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, which would be read by Padraic Pearse at the onset of the Rising. Joe became director of military operations for the Irish Republican Brotherhood, with Padraic and Thomas taking other leadership positions.

Joe was also a published poet and writer, gifted musician and head of the literary magazine, The Irish Review. He and Thomas co-founded the "Theatre of Ireland" which produced new plays by Irish playwrights, including two written by Thomas. Due to having tubercular glands in his neck as a child, he suffered from advanced tuberculosis. It's believed that Grace did not know the extent of Joe's illness.

Grace and Joe became engaged in December 1915, although they did not publicly announce their plans for an Easter wedding until February 1916.. The most likely reason for their secrecy was Isabella Gifford's opposition to their relationship, which was based on eitherJoe's health problems, his religion, his political activities or all three. Grace was received into the Catholic Church on April 7, 1916, at the University Church on St. Stephen's Green.

The History of the Song

"GRACE"

The first time I heard this song it was sung by an Irish tenor in a pub in Dublin. My father told me the history. The song tells the story of Joseph Mary Plunkett, who was, among other things a leader of the Easter Rising of 1916, a scholar and a poet. Grace is Grace Gilford, who was his fiance. Plunkett was imprisoned for his part in the 1916 Rising at the GPO in Dublin. At the time, he was engaged to Grace Gilford. For some reason, he was allowed to marry her the night before he was executed. Recently, a very observant visitor, pointed out to me that the wedding ceremony was only one hour before the execution.

Joseph Mary Plunkett

A brief biography

Joseph Mary Plunkett (1879-1916) was born in Dublin.  He was educated at Catholic University School, Belvedere College and Stonyhurst College.  His study of the mystics John of the Cross, Theresa of Avila, and Francis de Sales is discernable in his poetry. 

He was a close friend of Thomas MacDonagh and Padraic Pearse, noted Irish poets. He was for a short while editor of the literary publication, the Irish Review. Along with MacDonagh and Edward Martyn, he co-founded the Irish Theatre. 

During the 1916 Rising he was one of the signers of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic. He was imprisoned by the English army in the Richmond Barracks.  Shortly before his execution in the courtyard of Kilmainham jail, on the morning of May 4th, he married his fiance, Grace Gifford, in the jail's chapel. He died at the age of 28.

His friend, Thomas MacDonagh was executed the day before.  Joseph's father and brother John, who were also involved in 1916 uprising, served ten years penal servitude. Joseph's wife, Grace, was also later imprisoned in the Kilmainham jail. 

Two volumes of Plunkett's poetry were published. "The Circle and the Sword" was published in 1911 and the Occulta" was published posthumously. 

Grace in her wedding dress!

At 2:00 am, Grace was awakened by a policeman with a letter from the prison commandant asking her to visit Joe in his cell. The visit lasted only ten minutes. Grace later said, "We who never had enough time to say what we wanted to each other found that in that last ten minutes we couldn't talk at all." Describing their final time together, Grace said: "...the cell was packed with officers and a sergeant, who kept a watch in his hand and closed the interview by saying, 'Your time is now up.'"

While awaiting execution, Joe told a priest: "Father, I want you to know that I am dying for the glory of God and the honor of Ireland." At 3:30 am on May 4, only five days after their surrender, Joe was killed by a firing squad. Grace never remarried.

Grace (far right) with Joe's parents,

Count and Countess Plunkett

Grace endured several almost unimaginable losses within the time span of just over a year. Aside from the loss of Joe, Thomas MacDonagh, her brother-in-law, and many of her friends were also executed for leadership roles in the Rising. In August 1917, her sister, Muriel, (Thomas MacDonagh's widow) drowned, leaving two small children. One month later, Grace's father died.

Grace continued her career as an artist, eventually becoming quite successful. She used her talents to promote Sinn Fein policies and earned her living as a commercial illustrator. Grace was elected to the executive of Sinn Fein in 1917 and continued to support the struggles for Irish independence her entire life. Many Sinn Fein members were also involved in the Volunteers and the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and their separatist policies become more accepted after the Rising. Sinn Fein candidates, including Count George Plunkett, Joe's father, won three elections to the Parliament in 1917.

In 1919, Grace published a book of her political cartoons entitled To Hold as Twere.

Grace and her sisters were strongly opposed to the Treaty of 1921, which divided Ireland into the Republic of Ireland and British-ruled Northern Ireland. Grace wrote letters to several publications stating that the republic proclaimed by the signers of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic in 1916 was a reality that should be honored by all Irish people.

In an article entitled "The White Flag of 1916", published in Poblacht na h-Éireann Vol.1 No.12 March 15, 1922, Grace wrote:

I am far from thinking that all those who are in support of the Treaty are necessarily dishonest. Far from it. Some of them are merely those who, after the long, exhausting period in the wilderness of error, have temporarily lost the strength of soul that took them through it - the strength that proved their nobility again and again. Now, in the natural reaction after the rigors of that 'forty days', they are brought by a temper up to a huge mountain and offered a kingdom at a price.

Christ choose hunger rather than make a disgraceful contract with the devil. That the Treatists in their innermost hearts think the Treaty disgusting (and the Oath that binds them, or ought to bind them if oaths are to be taken seriously, to the Free State only, and not to a future Republic) is proved by their repeated assertions that they mean to break that Oath, and work on for the Republic.

That is the point - the price to be paid. Ireland must pause and think before she pays it. The woman, who in desperate circumstances, accepts comfortable conditions at the price of her honor, has many good material arguments to back up her decision. Having more money, she can then assist others in their distress, give employment, perhaps, and get, for the first time, 'the right to live her own life'.

Who, with any practical sense, would reject the substance for the shadow? A few hasty words read by a Priest, a blessing that cannot be grasped in the hand, and is less tangible than air - are these absurdities to stand in the way of her chance of 'living her own life'?

So say the Treatists regarding Oaths. This being so, and the Government of Ireland being for the present in their hands, one is forced to ask: What is to be the national standard? Is honor to have a place in national life?

Ireland today stands in the position of the woman about to barter her honor. Do intangible things matter? Or must we as a country aim only for things that can be grasped in the hand? Our national soul must answer 'Yes' or 'No'. If the value of intangible things is denied, why stop anywhere?

Let us break our vows of marriage and our pledged words in other directions, when nothing tangible, no arm of the law can keep us to them. Let us shut the churches and drive God from the place of honor he holds in the land.

Joseph Plunkett marching with the white flag, surrendered but only his body. He gave his life rather than take a shameful Oath of Allegiance to the Empire. That he could have saved his life at this cost is certain.

England always knew it would pay better to have Ireland contented on her terms; and no doubt the men who laid down their lives in Easter Week could have got 'terms of agreement' had they mentioned them. General Smuts in South Africa, got them readily in like circumstances.

But Joseph Plunkett knew what those terms would be, and forebore to negotiate. As he loved Ireland enough to lay down his life for her, it will be admitted that he loved her enough to wish to see her at peace. But he made no offers, like [General] Smuts, to take the easy road, knowing the penalties.

In 1923, during the Irish Civil War, Grace (along with many other republicans) spent three months in Kilmainham Gaol (Jail) because of suspected subversive activities against the Free State government.

Finding work as an artist was difficult in the depressed Irish economy after the Civil War, and Grace quite often lived in impoverished surroundings. She continued doing commercial art and cartoons, eventually developing a larger audience and several sponsors. Her book of theatre sketches, Twelve Nights at the Abbey Theatre and a second book of her cartoons received very positive public response and enthusiastic acknowledgment of her talents among her peers. By 1930, Grace was firmly established as an important member of Dublin's cultural community.

Grace is described as being very stylish, generous, outgoing and having a "mercurial" wit. She could occasionally become temperamental, which is understandable when considering all that she had lived through. She was very devoted to her several nieces and nephews, and spent much of her time with family. Grace also enjoyed the company of friends and the many cultural events that her beloved Dublin had to offer.

Grace died on December 13, 1955, after experiencing heart troubles for several years. Venerable Archbishop James Sherwin, who had received her into the Catholic church in 1916, celebrated Requiem Mass for Grace the following morning. She was buried with full military honors, her coffin draped with the Tricolour -- which was first seen flying over the General Post Office in the beginning moments of the Easter Rising.

The Irish Army was in attendance, with a firing squad and buglers to play the final salute. Among the mourners were Sean T. O'Kelly, the President of Ireland and his wife, Phyllis, and Eamon de Valera.

Along with members of Grace's family, three of Joe's siblings attended. Many politicians and former members of the old Irish Republican Army were also there.

Grace was buried near the republican plot where other famous fighters for Ireland's freedom are at rest.

Recalling William Orphen's portrait of a teen-age Grace appearing in his "Young Ireland" series, the Irish Press wrote that "she was Young Ireland, gallant in her youth and staunch in her faith."

I love this song. To me it's a combination of a patriotic song and a wonderful love song.

listen to it again, now that you know the history you might enjoy it more.

Clicking the sound link below will play the song "Grace". It is being performed by an internationally famous Irish Tenor.  He is accompanied by a full orchestra. Although beautiful in sound and quality of production, it pales in comparison to the same song's performance by Brendan Pelan. Brendan sings this song with emotions from the deepest part of his soul. When we get a copy of Brendan’s soundtrack in the right format, you will hear this song sung, the way it was written, from the heart.

Not much to be happy about on her wedding day

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