Máire Ní Shuibhne Brugha was born in [Cork] to Terence MacSwiney (1879–1920), a revolutionary, who was instrumental in setting up the Cork Volunteers in 1913. He became Lord Mayor of Cork in 1916 following the murder of his friend Tomás MacCurtain. Arrested by the British Army during a raid on City Hall, he was sentenced to prison in Brixton for two years. He began a hunger strike which drew international attention and died on day 74 of his fast.