Coyle was appointed to the executive of Cumann na mBan in 1924 and was elected as president in 1926, after Constance Markievicz resigned to join Fianna Fáil. It was a post she held until her resignation in 1941. She died in 1985. 5/5

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eithne_Coyle
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58163391

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Coyle was eventually taken to Mountjoy Prison from which she was transferred to Kilmainham.

Coyle was one of twenty female prisoners to escape on 7 May 1923. She was recaptured the following day however. Coyle was finally released from Kilmainham in December 1923. 4/

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Following the Anglo-Irish Treaty Coyle supported the anti-treaty faction. In September 1922 the Provisional Government decided to crack down on the activities of Cumann na mBan renegades and Coyle was the first member to be arrested as part of this move. Initially held at Ballyshannon she became the first Cumann na mBan member to go on hunger strike, refusing food for seven days. 3/

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In keeping with Cumann na mBan policy, she refused to recognize the court during her trial. She noted in her private papers, 'I read a newspaper during the whole comedy and only raised my eyes once to tell the presiding officer that he was wasting his precious time, as I did not recognise his sham court, as I spoke Irish one of the police had to translate my seven words of wisdom.' 2/

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Eithne Ni Cumhaill (Eithne Coyle) was born on 3rd January 1897 in Killult, Co. Donegal. She was an Irish republican activist, a leading figure within Cumann na mBan, an IRA officer and a member of the Gaelic League.

She was arrested on New Years Day 1921 and subsequently sentenced to three years penal servitude for aiding IRA members. 1/

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