Who Did What Now — Episode 184: Countess Constance Markievicz – Revolutionary Woman
Host: Katie Charlwood
Date: March 10, 2026
Episode Overview
In this dynamic, deeply-researched episode, Katie Charlwood celebrates the fierce and multi-faceted life of Countess Constance Markievicz, the Anglo-Irish aristocrat turned revolutionary, political prisoner, and one of the earliest female cabinet ministers in Europe. Katie brings Markievicz’s contradictions and convictions to life: a woman of privilege who championed the poor, a painter who became a political powerhouse, and a mother whose truest devotion was to Ireland’s liberation. The episode weaves a personal, humorous, and uncompromising look at how Markievicz agitated, resisted, and changed history.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Early Life and Upbringing
- Birth and Family: Born Constance Georgine Gore-Booth on February 4, 1868, in London (03:30), raised mainly at the family estate in Sligo, Ireland.
- Wealth and Social Consciousness: Her Anglo-Irish aristocratic family was unusually socially engaged—her father Sir Henry Gore-Booth opened the estate kitchens to feed the poor during famines (05:30).
- Education and Youth: Taught at home in multiple languages, influenced by a poet grandmother. Childhood friend—W.B. Yeats (“Yeats may have been a great poet, but he was a shitty person.”, 08:07).
2. Art, Politics, and the Path to Revolution
- Artist Origins: Initially dedicated to art—studied at the Slade School, London, then at Paris’ Académie Julian (10:00).
- Personal Life: Married Count Casimir Markievicz, who was charming, possibly not a ‘real’ count, and legally separated from his first wife (who soon died). Married in 1900, one daughter, Maeve, born 1901 (12:30).
- Dublin & the Arts: Established reputation as a painter; co-founded Dublin’s United Artist Club with fellow artists and literary figures (14:30).
3. Awakening to Activism
- Cultural Nationalism: Immersed in the Gaelic League and nationalist women’s groups like Inghinidhe na hÉireann (Daughters of Ireland), founded by Maud Gonne (15:00).
- First Forays into Protest: “She was a countess, in a satin ballgown and diamond tiara, swanning into a revolutionary meeting and loving every minute of making the establishment uncomfortable.” (16:30)
4. Militant Nationalism & The Easter Rising
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Founding Youth Militias: Helped found Na Fianna Éireann, a paramilitary Boy Scouts for Irish independence (19:58).
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First Arrest: Jailed in 1911 for anti-monarchy activity: “She was trying to burn this massive British flag...eventually she succeeds but gets arrested” (21:15).
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Labor Rights: Joined Irish Citizen Army during the 1913 lockout, opened soup kitchens, sold her own jewelry to feed workers’ children (23:30).
- Memorable Quote:
“Dress suitably in short skirts and strong boots. Leave your jewels in the bank and buy a revolver.”
— Countess Markievicz, on fashion advice, 24:59
- Memorable Quote:
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Easter Rising:
- Fought in the 1916 rebellion; involved in St. Stephen’s Green, allegedly shot a policeman and built barricades (27:00).
- Court-martialed, sentenced to death, but reprieved because she was a woman:
Markievicz’s retort: “I wish your lot had the decency to shoot me.” (31:45) - Imprisoned in England, released in amnesty (33:00).
5. Political Trailblazer
- First Woman MP: In 1918, became the first woman elected to the British Parliament (House of Commons), with 66% of the vote for Sinn Féin, but did not take her seat in protest (absentia policy) (33:00).
- Cabinet Minister: In 1919, became Minister for Labour in the revolutionary Irish government—one of the first female cabinet members in the world and the first in Ireland (35:54).
6. Later Years & Civil War
- Irish Independence & Partition: Discusses the 1921–22 Anglo-Irish Treaty, partition of Ireland, and subsequent civil war (36:00).
- Civil War Activity: Sided with anti-Treaty forces, led operations, and worked with the Cumann na mBan women's group to support the cause by passing messages and organizing (39:30).
- Multiple Imprisonments: Continued to be jailed for activism, undertook a hunger strike in 1923 (41:20).
- Political Evolution: Moved from Sinn Féin to Fianna Fáil, was re-elected but only would take her seat if the oath of allegiance was revoked (42:05).
7. Final Years and Legacy
- Personal Sacrifice: Gave away her wealth, lived with the poor, distanced from daughter Maeve due to era’s customs (“not the most maternal of people”) (43:45).
- Death & Funeral: Died in a public ward in 1927, at age 59—denied a state funeral, but tens of thousands lined Dublin’s streets for her four-hour funeral procession (44:35).
- Irish Wakes: Katie recaps the tradition and the community’s outpouring of respect for Markievicz.
- Legacy: First woman elected to British Parliament, first Irish female minister—a “revolutionary leader” who swapped jewels for practical boots and revolt.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On the British Empire:
“She looked at the British Empire...and said, basically, I think I’m gonna rebel. And not only rebel, but organize and fight and run soup kitchens and command troops.” (04:45) -
On Winston Churchill:
“Now you all know how much I hate Winston Churchill. Like I despise the man...Broken clock can still be right twice a day, right? Fucking hate the man.” (16:00) -
On fashion and revolution:
“Dress suitably in short skirts and strong boots. Leave your jewels in the bank and buy a revolver.” — Markievicz, 24:59 -
On her reprieve from execution:
“I wish your lot had the decency to shoot me.” — Markievicz to her captors, 31:45 -
On her maternal instincts:
“Not the most maternal people, but we shouldn’t expect all women to be maternal. And she was expected to be a mother, but she wanted to be a painter. She wanted to be an artist. And then she saw the world and went, ‘oh, no, we need to do something about this.’” (47:30)
Timestamps to Key Segments
- 01:30: Katie sets her irreverent, personal tone and introduces sources.
- 04:23: Biography—family, upbringing, and childhood in Sligo.
- 10:00: Move to London and Paris, art training.
- 12:30: Marriage to Casimir Markievicz, birth of daughter.
- 14:30: Artistic and cultural activism in Dublin.
- 15:00: First steps into Irish nationalist organizations.
- 16:30: Attending revolutionary meetings as a “countess in a tiara.”
- 19:58: Founding Na Fianna Éireann (paramilitary youth).
- 21:15: First arrest and activism against the monarchy.
- 23:30: Soup kitchens, jewelry for food, “dress suitably” quote.
- 27:00: Easter Rising, combat, arrest, and near-execution.
- 31:45: Commutation of death sentence due to being a woman, Markievicz’s reaction.
- 33:00: Elected to Parliament, refused seat, released from prison.
- 35:54: Becomes Minister for Labour, trailblazing as a female politician.
- 36:00—42:05: Partition, Civil War, hunger strike, party politics.
- 43:45: Giving up wealth, complex maternal legacy.
- 44:35: Death, funeral, and Irish wake customs.
- 47:30–52:00: Reflections on legacy, personal readings and recommendations.
Episode Tone & Host Style
Katie Charlwood infuses the narrative with humor, energy, and candor—never shying from strong opinions (“Churchill, piece of shit”) nor from unsparing honesty about Markievicz’s flaws and the contradictions of her background. She embraces an informal, relatable style, weaving contemporary commentary, language, and the recurring promise of “fun palette cleansers” at the end of a heavy history month.
Further Recommendations (From Katie)
- For Reading:
Bold, Brilliant and Bad by Dervla Roderick (50:15) - For Listening:
Sarah Hester Ross’s podcast This Is My Baby (50:55) - For Watching:
Derry Girls (51:10) — “Watch Derry Girls. Then look up the Troubles and watch again—you’ll get it.”
Summary
Countess Constance Markievicz emerges in this episode as a pioneering, tumultuous figure—at once privileged and radical, maternal and detached, artist and revolutionary. Through vivid anecdotes and direct quotations, Katie Charlwood connects Markievicz’s legacy to ongoing struggles for women’s autonomy and the continued significance of remembering history’s inconvenient, larger-than-life women.
In Katie’s words (47:30):
“I just want to keep telling history. The good, the bad, the stuff we have to learn from...I want to educate. I want to keep going. And I know that’s going to get me hate and annoying, people being arseholes, because that’s just how it is. And I know I’m an–I know I am.”
For listeners seeking an unsanitized, energizing take on one of Ireland’s boldest revolutionaries—this episode is unmissable.