John Downing: Did Éamon de Valera’s mother influence the Constitution and its provisions on women, marriage and family?

Eamon de Valera with his mother Kate Coll in April 1927. Photo: Getty

John Downing

It’s tempting to link Éamon de Valera’s mother to the long chain of events that led us to voting in Friday’s two referendums on women and carers. The driving force behind the 1937 Constitution, and its many social quirks, was effectively banished by his mother when he was two years old, an event that was a standout influence on his life.

So, in reality, the man who had a ­fervent regard for the role of mothers in the home, and a strong belief in marriage as a fundamental unit of society, had neither element in his young life.