Margaret Skinnider

Born in Scotland to Irish parents, Margaret Skinnider became involved in nationalist and suffrage politics while working as a teacher. She traveled to Dublin and took part in the Easter Rising in 1916, serving as a courier and carrying out dangerous missions before being seriously wounded.

She later wrote Doing My Bit for Ireland (1917), a vivid memoir based on her experiences during the Rising. The book remains one of the best-known personal accounts of those events because it combines eyewitness detail with the perspective of a woman directly involved in the fighting.

After the revolutionary period, Skinnider continued her career in education and remained active in public life. She is remembered today not only for her bravery during the Rising, but also for leaving behind a clear, personal record of a turning point in Irish history.