Although she was nearly forgotten by the time of her death, Alice Milligan holds a significant place in Irish history. Even before women were granted voting rights in Ireland, Milligan was a respected poet, playwright, and nationalist writer. Sheila Turner Johnston writes of Milligan in her biography, Alice (1994), "Ireland became her religion." Indeed, although Milligan was a prolific writer, she was less concerned with preserving her art for posterity than she was determined to fight for Ireland's independence. Most of her poetry was collected and published posthumously. She promoted the knowledge of Irish history, folklore, and language among the Irish themselves, and she made several speaking tours across the country. She was respected by William Butler Yeats, who staged one of her plays in his theater.

Born in Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland, on 14 September 1866, Alice Letitia Milligan was the third of thirteen children born to Seaton Forrest Milligan...