“It took four hundred policemen to take four women” - Rosie Hackett
The formation of the Republic of Ireland as an independent country is a long story and though many cite the Easter Rising of 1916 as its birth, it was not until thirty three years later that the country was legally recognized as its own Republic. Indeed the struggle for independence began centuries before the Easter Rising, as the people of the island tried time and again to be free of colonial oppression.
One aspect of the Irish struggle for independence that rarely received enough mention in the history books is the role Irish women played in this struggle, and not just within the home but also in demonstrations, activism, unionization and, when all other avenues failed, radical militant action. The Easter Rising was carried forward on the brave actions of not just Ireland's men, but its women also.
One warrior of the rising was Rosie Hackett, a long time activist and advocate for women's rights and founding member of the Irish Women Workers Union (IWWU). She, along with Constance Markievicz, occupied Stephens Green and the Royal College of Surgeons, and spent time in Kilmainham jail for her part in the uprising.
On the anniversary of the Rising in 1917, Rosie along with Helena Maloney, Jinny Shanahan and Brigid Davis barricaded themselves in Liberty Hall so that they could display a poster which read; ‘James Connolly, Murdered May 12th, 1916’. The combined might of the police was mobilised to try remove the women but it took many hours before they could breach the barricade. The poster remained on display until six in the evening so that the people would not forget the importance of those who fought for their freedom.
It was Rosie Hackett herself who bragged that "it took four hundred policemen to take four women."
This t-shirt feels soft and lightweight, with the right amount of stretch. It's comfortable and flattering for both men and women.
Exact colour & style may differ slightly from the product images.
• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz (142 g/m2)
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Side-seamed
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Size guide
| S | M | L | XL | 2XL | |
| Length (inches) | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
| Width (inches) | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 |