An Irish film I'd love to see get made. The story of Grace Gifford

"As we gather in the chapel here in old Kilmainham Jail
I think about these past few weeks, oh will they say we've failed? 
From our school days they have told us we must yearn for liberty 
Yet all I want in this dark place is to have you here with me 

Oh Grace just hold me in your arms and let this moment linger 
They'll take me out at dawn and I will die 
With all my love I place this wedding ring upon your finger 
There won't be time to share our love for we must say goodbye" 

Grace by Frank & Sean O'Meara

We all know this famous Irish song but what do we know about the woman behind the song - Grace Gifford. She's known as the woman who married Joseph Mary Plunkett hours before his execution at the hands of the English for his part in the 1916 rising but there's so much more to her story than that. It's a story I'd love to see onscreen. I think it could be great.

Grace was born into a Protestant family in 1888. She was very talented at art and trained under William Orpen. Eventually art became her career and she contributed drawings and political cartoons to numerous newspapers and books. Around this time her sister Muriel got married to future 1916 rising member Thomas McDonagh and through him she met Joseph Plunkett. Plunkett was a Catholic and they build a friendship during conversations about religion, a subject both were deeply interested in. Eventually that friendship turned romantic and they became engaged after she became a Catholic and were due to marry on Easter Sunday 1916. But fate intervened.

The 1916 Easter rising took place and Joseph was arrested for his part as a founding member. He was sentenced to death by firing squad in Kilmainham jail on the 3rd of May. Grace bought 2 rings and with the help of a priest she was allowed into the jail and there she married her love in the chapel. Their marriage lasted a couple of hours and then she became a widow.

Grace then decided to dive into politics and used her artistic skills to support Sinn Fein. Soon she was a fully fledged member of the party and became guardian to her niece and nephew after her sister, who had also been widowed, passed away. In 1919 her artwork was used during a holiday for The Irish Women's workers union which brought her to national prominence. A few years later she was arrested for her part as an active Sinn Fein member during the Irish civil war. Harrowingly she ended up being jailed in the very place where her husband lost his life. Instead of wallowing in grief though she devoted her energy to her art and spent her sentence decorating her jail cell with her own art.

After her release she was ostracised by society for her anti treaty part in the civil war and by her husband's family who cut her out of her husband's will. Once again her skills as an artist came to her rescue and eventually she had the privilege of working alongside W.B. Years and illustrated a book of his. She also became a costume designer in Dublin's Abbey Theatre. Her fortunes increased again when she was recognised by Eamon De Valera and received a civil list pension which enabled her to concentrate solely on her art. Around this time though the stress she had lived with for years began to take its toll on her and she spent her last years in a frail and sickly condition before passing away in 1955 aged only 66. She was buried in Glasnevin with full military honours with Sean T O'Cealligh in attendance. 

She had never remarried. She went to her grave still in love with her husband of a few hours.

The artwork in her Kilmainham jail cell still survives

Her story has the making of a brilliant film. One which would break your heart. RTE's godawful Rebellion TV show aside we rarely get to see anything about women's place in early 20th century Irish society. It would be great to see the rising through the eyes of the people in the background. The people who loved the founding members. Seeing it from this perspective would give a whole new slant on a story we are all familiar with. Plus how many biopics of tortured male artists have we seen over the years? Too many. We could see the troubles a woman had trying to build a career back when a woman's place has seen to be in the home and we could see the damaging effects the class system of the time had on people perceived to be on the wrong side of society.

I'd love to see the story of Grace get introduced to a whole new audience. She deserves it. Her story was sad but she lived her life to the fullest and never let her tragedies bring her down. 

Now who could play her part.

Saoirse Ronan as young Grace?
Maria Doyle Kennedy as older Grace?

Any suggestions as to who could do her justice?