mary bridget gibney was born in 1893 to thomas gibney and mary o’reilly in tralee, co. kerry. she was the eldest of three children. her father was in the royal irish constabulary and the family was not nationalist; she was the only active member. she was almost 5 when her father died on 20 september 1898 in dublin and the family went to live with an aunt. she was educated in the model school in marlborough street and later the kings inns school.