Jane (Flanagan) de Valera (1878 - 1975)

Born 3 Jun 1878 in Balbriggan, County Dublin, Ireland

Ancestors

Wife of George (Valero) de Valera — married 8 Jan 1910 in Arran Quay, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Feargal Hennigan [send private message]

Biography

Sinéad (Flanagan) de Valera was born in Ireland.

Sinéad was a Roman Catholic.

Sinéad (Flanagan) de Valera is Notable.

Sinéad Ní Fhlannagáin de Valera was an Irish teacher, folklorist, writer and wife of Éamon de Valera, 2nd Taoiseach and 3rd President of Ireland.

Early Life and Education

Jane, daughter of Laurence and Margaret (née Byrne) Flanagan of Skerries Street, Balbriggan, was born on the 1st June 1878 in Balbriggan^[1][2] and baptised on the 2nd June 1878 in Balbriggan, County Dublin.^[2]

When Jane was aged seven, her father was appointed as clerk of works during the building of St Peter's Church, Phibsborough^[3][4] and the family moved to Munster Street, Phibsborough.^[3]

After attending primary school locally, she went on to study at the Baggot Street Training College, where she qualified as a national school teacher.^[3][4]

Teaching Career and Gaelic Revivalism

Jane first got a temporary teaching post in Edenderry, County Offaly, before obtaining a permanent position in Artaine.^[4]

Jane had learned some Irish from Eoghan Ó Gramhnaigh's books and some off a policeman from Oileáin Árann who was working in the area she grew up. Jennie Flanagan of 6 Richmond Cottages registered as a member of the Ard-Chraobh of Conradh na Gaeilge on the 22nd November 1899.^[4]

In the 1901 census Jane (aged 22), National Teacher, was the daughter of Laurence Flanagan at 6 Richmond Cottages, Mountjoy, Dublin.^[5]

She de-anglicised her name from Jane Flanagan to Sinéad Ní Fhlannagáin and spent much of her spare time learning Irish with Conradh na Gaeilge in Dublin and in the Mayo Gaeltacht.^[3]

Ní Fhlannagáin moved to a school in Dorset Street, one of the first schools to take advantage of the new interpretation of the National Board rules to allow the teaching of Irish.^[4]

Having gained a fluency in Irish, she began teaching beginner Irish classes at Conradh na Gaeilge's college in Parnell Square, in addition to her role as a national school teacher.^[3] She was involved in Coláiste Chonnacht in Tuar Mhic Éadaigh from 1905.^[4] Among her pupils in 1908 was Éamon de Valera, with whom she spent the following summer in Coláiste Chonnacht.^[3][4]

On the 2nd October 1909, she accuired a professorship on the Leinster College staff.^[4]

Marriage

Sinéad Ní Fhlannagáin of 34 Munster Street married Éamon de Valera of 7 Vernon Terrace, Booterstown on the 8th January 1910 in Arran Quay, Dublin; in the presence of Francis D. Hughes and Bríghid Ní Fhlannagáin.^[6] They had seven children:

1. Bhibhian Labhrás, b.13th December 1910 in 33 Morehampton Terrace, Donnybrook, Dublin.
2. Máirín, b.12th April 1912 in Dublin.
3. Éamonn Padruig, b.11th October 1913 at 33 Morehampton Terrace, Donnybrook, Dublin
4. Brian Déaglann, b.25th July 1915 at 33 Morehampton Terrace, Donnybrook, Dublin.
5. Rúaidhrí Seosamh, b. 3rd November 1916 at 34 Munster Street, Phibsborough, Dublin.
6. Íde Emer Clare, b.15th August 1918 in Craig Leith, Kinlan Road, Killincarrig, Greystones, County Wicklow.
7. Toirdhealbhach, b.4th June 1922 at 62 Eccles Street, Dublin.

Following her marriage she gave up her career and concentrated on rearing their family of five sons and two daughters.^[3]

In the 1911 census Sinéad (aged 32) was the wife of Edward de Valera at 33 Morehampton Terrace, Donnybrook West, Dublin.^[7]

Husband's Imprisonment

In the aftermath of the 1916 Easter Rising, Sinéad de Valera found herself pregnant and without income while her husband was imprisoned.^[3] She was forced to return to the family home in Phibsborough to care for her mother and her sister, Máire, who would both die that year, followed by the death of her father in January of the following year.^[4]

After the family's finances improved, she settled in Greystones, County Wicklow, however she still saw little of her husband who was constantly either imprisoned or on the run. During the Civil War, her home was often raided by Free State troop, to whom she would speak only in Irish.^[3]

Literary Career and Husband's Presidency

In her later years, with her family grown up, she began writing. Her writings, in both Irish and English, icluded stories adapted from Irish folklore, European fairy tales translated into Irish, and other books and plays for children. Her best-known works include Coinneal na Nodlag agus sgéalta eile (1944) and Áilleacht agus an beithidheach (1946).^[3]

During her husband's presidency (1959–73) she made limited public appearances, but continued to attend Conradh na Gaeilge functions and children's drama competitions.^[3] After his retirement they moved into a private Dublin nursing home.^[3]

Death

Sinéad de Valera died (aged 96) on the 7th January 1975 and was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, Glasnevin, County Dublin.^[8][9]

Extended Family

Sinéad's grandson Éamon Ó Cuív wrote in The Galway Review in 2015 that:

Sean McBride's daughter Anna who died a few short years ago was married to my mother's first cousin Declan White. Declan is the son of a sister of Sinead de Valera ...

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, "Civil Records," database with images, IrishGenealogy.ie, birth of Jane Flanagan, 1 June 1878, Registration District/Office: Balbriggan; entry 97 of the 'copied register' of the Birth Register Books, signed and dated 9 June 1878 by Edward McGonigle, Deputy Registrar. (https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1878/02965/2086436.pdf : accessed 22 November 2023).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Baptism: "Ireland Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms"
   Archive: National Library of Ireland
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 22 November 2023)
   Johanna Flanagan baptism on 2 Jun 1878 (born 1 Jun 1878), daughter of Lawranti Flanagan & Margarita Byrne, in Skerries St Balbriggan, Balbriggan, Dublin, Ireland.
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11} DIB: Clarke, Frances (2009). De Valera, Sinéad. Dictionary of Irish Biography. https://www.dib.ie/biography/de-valera-sinead-a2475.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8} aimn.ie: Breathnach, Diarmuid & Ní Mhurchú, Máire. DE VALERA, Sinéad (1878–1975). ainm.ie. https://www.ainm.ie/Bio.aspx?ID=615.
5. ↑ 1901 Census: "1901 Census of Ireland"
   The National Archives of Ireland; Residents of a house 6 in Richmond Cottages (Mountjoy, Dublin)
   National Archives of Ireland Image - National Archives of Ireland Record (accessed 22 November 2023)
   Jane Flanagan (22) daughter, National Teacher, in household of Laurence Flanagan (62) in Richmond Cottages, Mountjoy, Dublin, Ireland. Born in County Dublin, Ireland.
6. ↑ Marriage: Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, "Civil Records," database with images, IrishGenealogy.ie, marriage of Éamonn de Bhalaera and Sinéad Ní Fhlannagáin, 8 January 1910, Registration District/Office: North Dublin; entry 167 of the 'copied register' of the Marriage Register Books, signed and dated 8 January 1910 by Michael Martin. (https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1910/09975/5626921a.pdf : accessed 22 November 2023).
7. ↑ 1911 Census: "1911 Census of Ireland"
   The National Archives of Ireland; Residents of a house 33 in Morehampton Terrace (Pembroke West, Dublin)
   National Archives of Ireland Image - National Archives of Ireland Record (accessed 22 November 2023)
   Sinead de Valera (32), wife, in household of Edward de Valera (28) in Morehampton Terrace, Pembroke West, Dublin, Ireland. Born in Co Dublin, Ireland.
8. ↑ Gravestone: Monumental inscription. Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. de Valera, Sinéad. 7 January 1975 (b.1878). Photographed by: Feargal Hennigan: taken 5 August 2022.
9. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #5747277 (accessed 22 November 2023)
   Memorial page for Sinéad Ni Fhlannagáin de Valera (1 Jun 1878-7 Jan 1975), citing Glasnevin Cemetery, Glasnevin, County Dublin, Ireland (plot: YD 11 SOUTH NEW CHAPEL); Maintained by Find a Grave.

• Wikidata: Item Q3778079, en:Wikipedia
• Sinead De Valera and her County Kildare Connections.