Maud Gonne was born in England on December 20, 1865 to a military man of Irish descent and an English mother.

She was educated in France and worked with John O'Leary for the Irish Nationalist Cause.

In 1900 she co-founded the Daughters of Erin and wrote many political and feminist articles.

In 1903 she met and married Major John MacBride, second in command for the Africaneers in the Boer Wars.

She worked tirelessly for the Red Cross in France during WWI and returned to Ireland after the Easter Uprising of 1916 and the execution of her estranged husband.

She served time in prison with other women active in the Irish anti-conscription movement and periodically went on hunger strikes.

She died on April 27, 1953. Her son, Sean MacBride, was one of the founders of Amnesty International and in 1974, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Maud Gonne MacBride is buried with other heroes of Ireland in the Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin. Some people call her Ireland's Joan of Arc.