BURIED TOGETHER
Partner Louie Bennett
Queer Places:
Ivybank, George's Ave, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland
Deansgrange Cemetery, 5 Park Ave, Kill of the Grange, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, A94 WP98 Ireland
St Stephen's Green, Saint Peter's, Dublin 2, Ireland
Helen
Chenevix (November 13, 1886 – March 4, 1963) was an Irish suffragist and trade
unionist. In 1911, she worked with Louie
Bennett to form the Irish Women's Suffrage Federation. The two later
founded the Irish Women Workers' Union. Chenevix was also elected to Dublin
Corporation, and twice served as acting Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1942 and 1950.
In 1951, she served as President of the Irish Trades Union Congress, and from
1955 to 1957 she was Secretary of the Women Workers' Union. She was also
active in the International League for Peace and Freedom and the Irish
Pacifist Movement.
Helen Sophia Chenevix was born on 13 November 1886 at Ivy Bank, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, and was the daughter of Henry Chenevix,[1][2] a
Bishop in The Church of Ireland[3] and Charlotte Chenevix Ormsby.
She was
possibly a descendant of the Irish chemist Richard Chenevix.[4][5][6]
Chenevix attended Alexandra College in Milltown in Dublin,[7] where
fellow suffragist and partner Louie Bennett had obtained her education twenty
years previously. Chevenix subsequently continued her studies at Trinity
College where she was a part of the first group of women to graduate and
attain a B.A degree in 1909.[7] Chenevix
became interested and immersed in the suffragette movement and was a key
member in the Irish Women's Suffrage Federation. Chenevix helmed many marches
and debates on the subject of women's rights, in regular collaboration with
fellow suffragist Bennett, with whom she partnered with in most political
activities. From 1911, socialism and feminism were growing movements, and many
feminists were of a socialist political view.[8] This
led to the popular support of suffragette associations during the 1910s and a
rise in support for Chenevix and the Irish Women's Suffrage Federation.
Chenevix was the only child of her parents, Henry and Sophia.[6] They
were a comfortable South Dublin family[7] that
had no financial difficulties as her father was the Bishop of the Church of
Ireland.[9] She
was still living with her parents in the family home in Dublin when she
founded the Irish Women's Suffrage Federation with Bennett. Chenevix and
Bennett were constant companions, leading to speculation that the pair were
romantically involved.[10] It
is now assumed that they were a couple. It has been said that the couple were
part of an influential network of lesbians living in Dublin.[3] Bennett
moved into the house beside Chenevix, and they also lived together for a
period of time with Chenevix caring for Bennett before she died from an
illness in 1956.[10] In Pax
et Libertas, Chenevix wrote that Bennett was "the best loved woman in Dublin"
and "Peace and Freedom were here twin ideals".[11]
Chenevix was a women's rights activist. In 1911 she co-founded the Irish
Women's Suffrage Federation, which supported the foundation of Dublin's Irish
Women's Reform League and Belfast's Women's Suffrage Society. Chenevix
believed the school leaving age should be raised to 16 years of age and
campaigned for this to be changed in the 1920s. She understood the struggles
that poorer families had and demanded financial compensation for them.[6]
Helen co-founded the Irish Women's Workers Union in 1916 and by 1918 it was
recognised as a trade union, with over 5,000 members. Their aim was to support
women working in poor working conditions. They negotiated with employers for
better pay and working hours.[12]
In 1945, Chenevix, Bennett and other members of the Irish Women's Worker's
Union began a strike over the poor working conditions employees had to endure
whilst working in the laundries. This successful strike lasted 3 months in
total and the whole nation was awarded with two weeks paid annual holidays at
the end. Chenevix and Bennett were highly praised for being "strong, powerful
women" for managing and maintaining the strike.[13]
In 1949, Chenevix served as vice president to the Irish Trade Union
Congress and in 1951 she was appointed president.[6]
Chenevix was also elected to Dublin Corporation, and twice served as
acting Lord Mayor of Dublin (in 1942 and 1950).[14] She
was also active in the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom[15] and
the Irish Pacifist Movement.[16]
After Bennett's retirement in 1955, Chenevix acquired her position as general
secretary of the Irish Women's Worker's Union.[6]
After she retired from the Irish Women Workers’ Union in 1957, Chenevix
concentrated on working for peace and nuclear disarmament.[17]
A memorable event in Chenevix's later life was her input at a conference of
the Irish Trade Union Congress and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. A
heated argument broke out amongst delegates suggesting that the idea of world
peace was a "communist" ideal. As Chenevix, a "frail, gentle, grey-haired
figure", approached the stand, the conference was in uproar. As she spoke
calmly and convincingly for the need for peace, the disorder began to die.
Once she had finished, the room broke out into a storm of thunderous applause.
Her resolution, which had previously been viewed as "communist", was finally
recognised and passed unanimously.[18]
Chenvix worked tirelessly throughout her life to fight for women's rights, to
improve working conditions for Irish women and for the right to live in a
peaceful world without war or disruption.[10] As
she worked right up to her death, she was appointed a member of the Industrial
Accidents Commission just three days before her bereavement.[19]
She died of brain cancer on the 4th of March 1963[17] in
Walkinstown Hospital,[20] and
she was buried in Deansgrange cemetery on the 7th of March of the same year.
Her funeral was held in Monkstown Parish Church and was conducted by the
Reverend RWM Wynne. Amongst those who attended the funeral were members of
the Dáil and Senate, representatives of the Trade Union movement and many of
Chenevix's personal friends.[21]
A bench has been placed in St Stephens Green park in honour of Chenevix and
Bennett for their hard work in fighting for women's rights. The bench reads,
'Also of her lifelong friend and co-worker Helen Chenevix, 1888 - 1963 who
shared the same high ideals,'.[22] The
two women were described as "Two of the most remarkable Irish women of this
century" after Chenevix's death.[7] A
memorial in The Irish Times newspaper said that Chenevix "will be missed not
only for the work she did, but for the noble qualities she possessed. Her
friends will have a deep and irreparable sense of loss".[23]
A walking tour was organised by Ingenious Ireland on International Women's
Day 2015 to celebrate the lives of Chenevix, Bennett, Helena Molony and Kathleen
Clarke and to honour their work on behalf of the laundries. The tour was
entitled "Obstreporous Lassies"[24] and
focused on the work the Irish Women's Workers Union.[25]
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