The story of Cork’s first female city councillor revealed

A new book launched on Thursday night will profile 12 inspirational women who have made significant contributions to local government in Cork city.

‘Leading the Way’ will be launched in City Hall written by Aodh Quinlivan, John Ger O’Riordan and Anne Twomey.

One of the most interesting women in the book is Anne Sutton, the first woman to be elected to Cork Corporation in January 1920.

Previously a forgotten figure in Cork, many books, journal articles and newspaper pieces incorrectly cite Jenny Dowdall as the first woman elected to Cork Corporation in 1950.

Johanna Sutton was born on Sunday 18 October 1868 in Bellevue, Cobh. Her mother was Ann Lane; her father was Captain Nathaniel Sutton, a shipmaster based in the town. Nathaniel was a member of a wealthy and well-known family of master mariners.

Anne was a staunch Roman Catholic and Irish nationalist. She joined Sinn Féin and became an active member as the party rose in prominence in the period after the Rising of Easter 1916. Anne put her name forward for the municipal elections to Cork Corporation in January 1920.

156 candidates contested the 56 seats on the corporation, but only one woman was on the ballot paper in Cork city – Anne, a 51 year old spinster living in Eagle Lodge, Summerhill North. Anne was naturally quiet and reserved but she canvassed enthusiastically across her ward.

Counting of votes commenced in City Hall at 9.30am on the morning of 16 January. Results for Anne Sutton’s North-East Ward were amongst the last to be announced. Sinn Féin’s Professor William Stockley (493 votes) topped the poll, followed by the Irish nationalist James Daly (343 votes). Having exceeded the quota on the first count, both men were declared elected. Much to her delight – and possibly surprise – Anne Sutton was in fifth place after the first count with 124 votes.

Her more high-profile party colleague Seán French, secured a disappointing 73 first preference votes, placing him 11th after the initial count. Anne Sutton was duly elected on the second count, following the distribution of William Stockley’s surplus.

In her first election, this was a remarkable achievement and Anne was overjoyed.

The annual statutory meeting of Cork Corporation took place on Friday 30 January in City Hall. Alderman Tomás MacCurtain was announced as the Lord Mayor of Cork for the coming 12 months.

Anne’s first year as a member of Cork Corporation was turbulent and tragic, with the War of Independence – and the deaths of lord mayors MacCurtain and MacSwiney - providing a violent backdrop. Following the subsequent Civil War, Cork Corporation witnessed a bitter mayoral election in January 1924 - a contest between pro-Treaty Cllr Barry Egan and anti-Treaty Cllr Seán French. Anne Sutton voted for Egan, but it was French who prevailed on a vote of 23-22.

Anne had pondered deeply on the merits of the Treaty. After much soul-searching, she decided to back Michael Collins and adopted a pro-Treaty position. For Anne, acceptance of the Treaty did not mean total satisfaction with its terms, but rather the hope of a better future for Cork.

Disillusioned by the election as lord mayor of anti-Treaty Seán French and with her health declining, Anne attended fewer and fewer Corporation meetings over the months that followed. In June, she resigned her seat.

Members paid tribute to her contribution over the previous four years, noting that she was not a speech maker but a highly effective public representative. Anne was also praised for her commitment to culture and her prominent role on the Fitzgerald’s Park and Museum committee. Cork Corporation was disintegrating, and minister Séamus Burke took the decision to intervene. He ordered the holding of a public inquiry into the workings of the Corporation which led to its dissolution until 1929.

Anne quietly lived out the rest of her days at home in Eagle Lodge, before dying on Sunday 9 February 1930, aged 61.

‘Leading the Way’ published by Cork City Libraries with the support of the Cork City Council Women’s Caucus and Commemorations Programme, will be published in December.