A simple plaque. Yet it speaks volumes. This unassuming Kathleen Goodfellow Plaque stands before us. It marks a place of quiet beauty. A testament to a remarkable woman. Kathleen Goodfellow. Who was she? More than just a name on a plaque.
Kathleen Goodfellow lived a fascinating life. Born in Dublin in 1891. She was a writer a poet and a translator. She wasn’t just an observer. She was a participant in history. A member of Cumann na mBan. An Irish nationalist organization. She even met her lifelong friend. Artist Estella Solomons. Under sniper fire during the Easter Rising. Imagine that.
Kathleen wrote under the pen name Michael Scot. She penned Three Tales of the Times. A book detailing life in Ireland under the brutal Black and Tans. She bravely documented a dark chapter. Her words providing a crucial historical record. But she didn’t limit herself to prose. She translated the poetry of François Villon. Bringing the beauty of 15th-century French verse to English readers. A true polymath.
Goodfellow was independently wealthy. She owned a row of houses in Donnybrook. She was a patron of the arts. A supporter of The Dublin Magazine. She contributed her own work to its pages. Poems articles and reviews. She helped it survive financially. A testament to her generosity and her love for Irish literature.
Her philanthropy didn’t stop there. She championed children’s charities. She served on the board of governors for the Royal Hospital in Donnybrook. She used her wealth for good. Leaving a legacy beyond her literary works. In 1979 she bequeathed The Grove. A woodland area near her home. To An Taisce. A charity that protects Ireland’s natural heritage. Today The Grove is a wildlife sanctuary. A haven for birds and other creatures. A green space in the heart of Dublin.
This plaque. A simple tribute. But it speaks of so much more. It is a marker for a life well-lived. A woman who used her talents. Her wealth and her influence for the betterment of Ireland. Kathleen Goodfellow. A poet a patriot a philanthropist. A true Dubliner. Her legacy lives on. Not just in her words but in this peaceful sanctuary. A fitting tribute.