Celebrating Dr. Elizabeth-Gould Bell

When I moved into my home in 2014, one of the features that caught my attention was the glass etching of Bells Castle (now @killeavycastle) on one of the doors.

From my front door I can look over to the Castle and watched the work take place during its recent refurbishment and transformation.

A few years ago I also came across info on an amazing woman Elizabeth Gould Bell, who was a descendent of the Bell Family of Killeavy Castle.

Amongst many things she was the First Woman to Graduate In Medicine And Practice as a Doctor In Ulster and was also a social and political activist.

As today is the anniversary of her death I wanted to share some of her story with you and will continue to do so in the weeks ahead.

"To Elizabeth Bell,

On behalf of all women who will win freedom by the bondage which you have endured for their sake, and dignity by the humiliation which you have gladly suffered for the uplifting of women, We, the members of the Women’s Social and Political Union, herewith express our deep sense of admiration for your courage in enduring a long period of privation and solitary confinement in prison for the Votes for Women Cause, also our thanks to you for the great service that you have thereby rendered to the Woman’s Movement. Inspired by your passion for freedom and right may we and the women who come after us be ever ready to follow your example of self-forgetfulness and self-conquest, ever ready to obey the call of duty and to answer to the appeal of the oppressed.

Signed on behalf of the Women’s Social and Political Union,

E. Pankhurst E.Pethick Lawrence".[1]

@ringofgullion @newrymournedowndc

Photo credit: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Read an article about Dr. Elizabeth Gould-Bell from the British Medical Journal

Read about Dr. Elizabeth Gould Bell on Wikipedia.