Along with her sisters, MacDonagh was active in the Women's Franchise League and Inghinidhe na hÉireann, a nationalist organisation. She was involved in the school meals programme of 1910 to 1911, took part in a 1914 Women's Franchise League fundraiser, appearing in a tableau vivant as Maeve, the Warrior Queen. Less ardently feminist than her sisters, MacDonagh took delight in inviting home activists and artists for a "proper meal". In an outgoing family, she was shy and reserved, known for her gentle manner. In 1908 she was introduced to Thomas MacDonagh by suffragette journalist Nora Dryhurst along with her sisters, Grace and Sidney, on a visit to St Enda's School. Dryhurst advised Thomas to "fall in love with one of these girls and marry her", to which he replied laughingly "That would be easy; the only difficulty would be to decide which one". The Gifford sisters remained acquaintances with Thomas until the autumn of 1911, when the couple had a short and intense courtship. They would meet secretly in galleries and museums, and had copious correspondence. When he was appointed assistant lecturer to University College Dublin in December 1911, they married on 3 January 1912. They had one son, Donagh MacDonagh, and one daughter, Barbara MacDonagh Redmond. The family lived first at 32 Baggot Street, and later at 29 Oakley Road, Rathmines.
