Description

The Women of 1798 is an edited academic anthology by historians Dáire Keogh and Nicholas Furlong, published by Four Courts Press in 1998 as part of the 1798 bicentenary series.

The book addresses a major gap in traditional historiography: the limited attention given to women’s experiences during the 1798 uprising. Through a range of essays and case studies, it reconstructs how women were involved in and affected by the rebellion across Ireland.

Key Themes

The volume explores women in multiple roles, including:

• Political activists and sympathisers within revolutionary networks
• Combatants and participants in local uprisings
• Witnesses and informants documenting events
• Victims of violence, displacement, and repression during and after the rebellion

It draws on a wide range of historical sources, including court records, personal narratives, memoirs, and previously underused archival material, to build a more complete picture of women’s experiences in the revolutionary period.

Historical Context

The 1798 Rebellion, led largely by the Society of United Irishmen, was a major uprising against British rule. While traditional narratives focused on male leaders and military action, this volume reframes the conflict by showing how deeply women were embedded in both the political and social fabric of the rebellion.

The essays also highlight regional variation, particularly in areas such as Wexford, Wicklow, Antrim, and Down, where women’s involvement and experiences differed significantly depending on local conditions and levels of insurgent activity.

Significance

This book is widely used in:

• Irish revolutionary history studies
• Women’s history and gender studies
• Local history research on the 1798 uprising
• Academic analysis of memory and historical narrative

It is considered an important contribution to revising earlier historical accounts that marginalised female participation in Irish revolutionary movements.

ISBN 9781851823598