"The Irish Republic is entitled to, and hereby claims the alligence of every Irishman and Irish woman."
-The Proclamation of the Republic

On Easter Monday 1916, roughly 1,600 Irish citizens revolted against the British government by taking over multiple official buildings in the city of Dublin. That day, rebellion leader, Padraig Pearse announced the birth of the Irish Republic by reading The Proclamation of the Republic on the steps of the capital's General Post Office. For five days, Irish nationalists and British soldiers fought throughout the streets of Dublin. Pearse and his fellow leaders finally surrendered due to the excessive use of artillery by the British. These six days are forever etched into Irish history and are known as the Easter Rising. This Monday marks the centennial of the rebellion.

The men of the Easter Rising, especially the Seven Signatories: Padraig Pearse, James Connolly, Seán MacDiarmada, Éamonn Ceannt, Thomas James Clarke, Thomas MacDonagh, and Joseph Mary Plunkett, are iconic heroes in Irish history.

However, the significant role women played in the Easter Rising is often overlooked. Over 100 women are known to have played a direct part in the Rising. It only seems right to spend the centennial of this historic event talking about ten of the bad ass women who partook in the Rebellion.

1. Countess Constance Markievicz

Countess Markievicz and her husband moved to Dublin in 1903 from their home in London. She became extremely involved in Irish nationalist politics in 1908, and naturally became a member of James Connelly's Citizen Army during the Easter Rising. She was second in command at St. Stephen's Green, one of the locations seized by the nationalists during the Rebellion. The Countess was arrested after the nationalists surrendered along with her fellow leaders and placed into solitary confinement. While sixteen of her male comrades were executed, Countess Markievicz was sentenced to life in prison because of her gender. She was released from prison in 1917 and was the first woman to hold the position of Minister of Labour from 1919-1921.

2. Dr. Kathleen Lynn

Dr. Kathleen Lynn was one of the first women to graduate from medical school at the University College Dublin. She became politically active in 1913 and joined the Irish Citizen's Army in 1916 upon request of James Connelly. She was then appointed the position of Captain and Chief Medical Officer. Lynn was arrested after the nationalists surrendered but was later released in 1918 to help fight the Spanish flu outbreak in Dublin.

3. Margaret Skinnider

Margaret Skinnider was originally a math teacher in Glasgow until 1916. She was a member of the Irish Republican Army's women's auxiliary, Cummann na mBan. Skinnider joined a rifle practice club, which was originally formed to help defend the British Empire, so that she could defend Ireland through artillery means. She became a sniper during the Easter Rising and was shot three times while on post. She waited for three days at University Church with her injuries until the uprising ended.

4. Helena Moloney

Helena Moloney was a noted actress and political activist from the early 20th century. She became a part of the Irish Citizen Army and spent the early part of 1916 smuggling guns from London to Dublin in her luggage. Moloney was placed at City Hall during the Easter Rising where the first rebel leader, Sean Connelly, was killed.

5. Rose McNamara

Rose McNamara played a major role in Ireland's fight for independence. She was a member of Cummann na mBan alongside Margaret Skinnider and held an officer position at the Marrowbone Lane Distillery during the Rising. She later served under Countess Markievicz during the Irish Civil War.

6. Elizabeth O'Farrell

Elizabeth O'Farrell decided she wanted to become a nurse at the age of 19. After earning her nursing certification, she started working as a midwife at the Hollis Street Hospital in Dublin. In 1906, O'Farrell became involved in the Daughter of Ireland, a radical Irish nationalist group for women. The group later merged with Cummann na mBan. She was given the job of dispatch carrier during the Easter Rising and was the person who brought the news of the Rising the Galway, Ireland.

7. Molly Childers

Molly Childers was originally born in Boston but moved to England after marrying her husband, Erskine Childers. Her husband's advocacy for Ireland's independence led to Childers involvement in the Rising. The couple helped smuggle arms and artillery into Ireland before the rebellion.

8. Kathleen Clarke

Kathleen was brought up in an extremely nationalist family and ended up marrying Thomas James Clarke, one of seven signatories. She was an important member of the Cummann na mBan and was one of the only people to know about the plans of the Easter Rising before it took place. Clarke was not directly involved with the Rising, but was arrested because of her husband's involvement.

9. Winnie Carney

After going to school at the Hughes Commercial Academy to become a typist, Winnie Carney met rebel leader, James Connelly while he was in Belfast. He later hired her as his personal secretary. Carney took minutes during all of his meetings with fellow nationalists and republicans. She also typed all of Connelly's publications. During the Easter Rising, Carney wrote dispatches and mobilization orders. She stayed by Connelly's side after he was injured and typed up his last orders before his arrest.

10. May Gibney

May Gibney was 23 when she became involved in the Easter Rising. She was the only member of her family involved in the rebellion, as she came from a royalist background. Gibney volunteered as a cook at the General Post Office (GPO) garrison during the rebellion. She also brought messages from the GPO to other garrisons throughout Dublin. Gibney was arrested shortly after the Rising but was soon released. After her time in jail, Gibney brought messages to the families of her fellow activists.

If you're interested in learning more about the women of the Easter Rising, RTÉ's documentary, Seven Women, can currently be streamed for free on their website along with a handful of other documentaries about the rebellion.