Sinéad de Valera

Sinéad de Valera, also called Sinéad Bean de Valera,¹ (June 3, 1878 - January 7, 1975) was the wife of Irish republican leader and 3rd President of Ireland Eamon de Valera. Born Sinéad Flanagan, she was an activist in the Gaelic League, through which she met de Valera, who was an Irish language student of hers. They married in 1910. Though she kept to the background politically, Sinéad was highly politicised, though differing rumours suggested that she was either more moderate or more radical than her husband.

An accomplished author, Sinéad had many books of Irish folklore published.

She died in January 1975, eight months ahead of her husband of sixty-five years. She is buried with him in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.

Footnote

¹ Sinéad Bean de Valera in English translates as Sinéad, the wife of de Valera and is the old form of address used by wives. It has largely though not totally fallen out of usage.