Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh has called on Mayo County Council to purchase the 1916 Rising service medal which was presented to Mayo doctor Kathleen Lynn for her role in the 1916 Rising, and is up for auction in Bray, Co Wicklow at the end of the month.
Teachta Conway-Walsh said: "Kathleen Lynn is one of the most important Irish historical figures to come from Mayo. Born at Mullafarry, Killala, she was awarded this prestigious award in recognition of her work as Chief Medical Officer of the Irish Citizen’s Army, based at City Hall, during the Easter Rising.
"Mayo County Council should act decisively to buy the medal and return it to Mayo so it can become part of the Jackie Clarke Collection at Ballina. The medal is a piece of Irish and Mayo history and should be in public ownership so everyone can enjoy it and learn about the life and work of Dr Lynn.
"Adding this medal to the Jackie Clarke Collection of over 100,000 items would see Mayo increase its ‘knowledge tourism’ and top-level educational research opportunities.
"Dr Lynn was an active suffragist, as well as a socialist and republican. In 1923, she was elected to Dáil Eireann but in line with Sinn Féin abstentionist policy, didn’t take her seat. She left politics in the late 1920s, choosing to focus instead on her health work.
"Her medical career was defined by her crusading work at St. Ultan’s Children’s Hospital, which she established with her lifelong companion, Madeleine ffrench Mullen and other women activists. This was the only hospital in Ireland entirely managed by women.
"In honour of her work at St. Ultan’s for the most disadvantaged children of the nation, Sinn Féin has a long-standing campaign to name the new National Children’s Hospital after her.
"Dr Kathleen Lynn died on 14 September 1955, and was buried with full military honours. She was so well known that crowds lined the streets for her funeral procession. Held in high esteem for both her political activism and her health work, she is a credit to Mayo.
"Ballina is the rightful home for her medal, which recognises her work not only tending to the injured and dying during the Rising itself, but also the huge medical preparations she oversaw before the Rising itself.
"I urge Mayo County Council to consider bidding for this valuable artefact, so that we have a local reminder of this incredible woman and all she achieved through her lifetime."
