Born into the Anglo-Irish Gore-Booth family, Constance grew up at Lissadell House in County Sligo. She trained as an artist, became involved in nationalist politics, and committed herself to the cause of Irish independence and social reform.

During the Easter Rising of 1916, she served with the Irish Citizen Army. Later imprisoned for her role in the rebellion, she continued her political work and was elected to the British House of Commons in 1918, though she did not take her seat. Instead, she participated in the revolutionary Irish parliament, Dáil Éireann. Her life brought together questions of national freedom, women's political participation, and social justice.