The Women Made the Tea

by Teresa O’Mahony

The women made the tea,
fed the babies
and kept the house going.

While the men marched,
they found their voice,
joined the Mná in their stiff uniforms,
belted and hatted,
fit for the cause.

When the men wore the medals
they cleared to starch aprons
back to the kitchen
with a badge on the mantel.

Reproduced with kind permission of the author.

Teresa O’Mahony is a member of the Fatima Poetry Vigilantes. This poem was composed in a Poetry as Commemoration workshop led by Catherine Ann Cullen in July 2022.

Cover Image: Zoomed in capture from a photograph of President de Valera taking tea with two unidentified men.

Collection: Press Photographs of Eamon de Valera (1882-1975).

UCD Archives, P150/PH/3858 / UCD Digital Library, https://digital.ucd.ie/view/ivrla:19954.