A native of Co. Wicklow, Lillie Reynolds worked as a domestic servant in Dublin and met James Connolly whilst the latter was serving in Ireland with the British Army. They became engaged in 1888 and married in Perth, Scotland, two years later. They had six children. Following the Easter Rising, Connolly visited her husband twice in Dublin Castle Hospital before his execution on 12th May. Their daughter Nora, who was present on the latter occasion, recalled one of their final interactions: “Mama could hardly talk. I remember he said: “Don’t cry, Lillie. You will unman me”. Mama said: “But your beautiful life, James”, she wept. “Hasn’t it been a full life? Isn’t this a good end?”, he said.”
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