This book was written out of years of curiosity about the iconic image of Padraic Pearse’s
surrender to the British forces commanding Officer Major General WHM Lowe in the 1916
surrender in Dublin Ireland. This image had a pair of concealed ankles of a woman whose
name I did not know. Why she had been whitewashed out of the surrender picture I
presumed was political.
Imagine my surprise when I saw a full-sized portrait of this iconic picture go on display in
Seanad Eireann recently.
At last, I had a name for the concealed ankles – Elizabeth O’ Farrell. I decided to find out
more about her. I could never have imagined the exciting journey of discovery I was about
to encounter.
Elizabeth O’ Farrell was born in Dublin in 1883 and joined Cumann na Bhan in her early 20’s
along with her closest friend Sheila Grenan. They both became involved in the politics of the
1913 workers strike, locally known as the lockout for better pay and conditions for workers.
In writing this historical fiction account of the role of Elizabeth O’ Farrell and Sheila Grenan I
have tried to give a flavour of the life these women chose to live together as one until the
death of Elizabeth in June 1957. I dedicate this book ‘the secret of the clay’ to all the
inseparable women that Elizabeth and Sheila were fortunate to know.