While avoiding the sniping on Baggot Street Bridge, Estella met a kindred spirit, Kathleen Goodfellow, and together they enlisted in Cumann na mBan, the auxiliary branch of women volunteers. By 1918 every working-class woman was a member of Cumann na mBan. So powerful the organization developed, and the fastidious Countess Markievicz was at their head. Phyllis Ryan, later to be Seán T. O'Kelly's future wife, drilled the unit that Estella was attached.

After training when most members were sent down the country, Estella stayed and gave her support in Dublin. A period of uncertainty reigned. Ireland was experiencing the duplicity of Lloyd George and his colleagues, and their prevarication; and houses were...