WICKLOW’S WONDER WOMEN

Kate Tyrrell

Arklow (1863 - 1921)

Kate Tyrrell was born in Arklow in 1863 into a seafaring family. Edward Tyrrell and his wife Elizabeth had four daughters, of whom Kate was second eldest. As a child, she accompanied her father on voyages back and forth across the Irish Sea in the family schooner, developing a love of the sea that never waned. In 1885, Edward bought the Denbighshire Lass, a 62-ton schooner which Kate, acting as captain brought to Arklow. She was 22. When Edward died the following year, Kate became sole owner of the Denbighshire Lass. She took over control of the business and was an excellent captain, maintaining a highly disciplined ship. The law of the day did not recognize female ship owners or sea captains however, and Kate embarked on a long battle to have the law changed. Kate married John Fitzpatrick in 1896, whose name appeared on legal documents, until the law was changed in 1899. She died in 1921, aged 58

Information provided by Jim Rees of the Arklow Maritime Museum. Read the story of Kate Tyrrell, Arklow’s ‘Lady Mariner’ on www.countywicklowheritage.org

Averil Deverell

Greystones (1893 - 1979)

Averil Katherine Statter Deverell born in 1893, lived at Ellesmere, Church Road Greystones. During her life, Averil witnessed and played a firsthand role in momentous changes both for Ireland and for women. She died in 1979 and is buried at Redford Cemetery. Averil graduated with a law degree from Trinity in 1915 during World War 1. She served as a VAD Nursing Sister at Trinity and in Greystones, and as an ambulance driver in France. In 1918, cutting 12 inches off her cumbersome Edwardian skirt, she served in France and Flanders with the French Red Cross. Returning home, she trained as a barrister and became the first woman to practise as a barrister in Ireland. Entering the closed, male, confines of the Law Library at the Four Courts in January 1922 she was the first, and for 18 months the only, woman there. A keen amateur actress and golfer, Averil maintained a successful career as a barrister for the next four decades, retiring in 1969 as “Mother of the Bar”, commanding respect and affection in equal measure from her colleagues.

Read more about Averil Deverell in ‘From Presentation to Pioneer’ by Liz Goldthorpe on www.countywicklowheritage.org

As part of the Decade of Centenaries, Wicklow County Council’s Arts and Heritage Offices and the Archives Service have joined forces with Herstory and curator Liz Kelly to produce Wicklow's Wonder Women, a fantastic programme of events to celebrate the centenaries of these two local trailblazers.

“Wicklow County Council Arts and Heritage Offices and Archive Service have commissioned these projects to mark women’s history and outstanding achievements as part of our ongoing Decade of Centenaries Programme in 2021. Supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 initiative, two trailblazing Wicklow Women take centre stage and we are delighted to work with Liz Kelly Curator, and Herstory to commemorate and celebrate Averil Deverell and Kate Tyrell in their home county’ said Jenny Sherwin, Arts Officer and Deirdre Burns, Heritage Officer Wicklow County Council