New York Republican John McDonagh and other Independent Republicans will hold an event to honour Matilda Tone, wife of Theobold Wolfe Tone.The event will be held on Saturday the 1st of November 2025 at 12.45pm at her graveside and final resting place in Greenwood Cemetery.
John McDonagh will place soil gathered from Theobald Wolfe Tones grave upon that of Matilda's.
John McDonagh done the very same in reverse when invited to attend the Independent Republicans Bodenstown 2025 National Wolfe Tone Commemoration.
Pat Williams will be reading the 1916 Proclamation at the event.
Wreaths will be laid, with O'Donovan Rossa’s Astoria GAA already committing to do so.
A recital of "The Man from God Knows Where" will be provided by Irish-American folk musician and writer Melanie Curran.
Matilda Tone was Dublin born (Martha Witherington) and like so many Irish women of the revolution married to prominent Irish Republicans, she was much more than a mere wife.
Indeed Matilda was a close confident of Theobold, and for being such, she had to flee in the aftermath of the United Irishmen revolution in 1798 and Theobalds death ahead of imminent execution.
Matilda left Ireland for France, where she held influence with Napolean Bonaparte and other prominent French political and military leaders.
Matilda and Theobolds son William entered millitary training as a cadet eventually qualifying and participating in historic battles against the British until suffering defeat at Waterloo.
Following the defeat at Waterloo, Matilda and William departed for America with Thomas Wilson, a former associate of Tones whom she had married.
Shortly after arriving in America both she and William set about locating and collating Theobald's writings and after many years of ardous searching they managed to manifest their labour with a biography.
Sadly William died in 1828, the last of the four children that Martha shared with Theobald, leaving her all alone as Thomas Wilson had passed away suddenly four years previous in 1824.
Martha Tone survived her four children, her remarkable revolutionary husband and confidant, yet continued her fight to return to her native country, Ireland, a plight that was repeatedly denied by the British political establishment.
Martha Tone died in America on the 18th of March 1849 and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery.
Location: Greenwood Cemetery, Main Entrance at 25th Street & 5th Avenue, Brooklyn
Meet at 12:30pm | Ceremony begins at 1:00pmAny group or individual wishing to participate should DM John McDonagh.
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