Easter, 1916

Ireland's history has rarely been calm. From 1169 until 1922, the British controlled Ireland. The Irish disliked their occupiers and attempted to gain their independence. In April 1916, the Easter Rising occurred. 

April 24, 1916, Easter Monday, the armed insurrection by Irish Republicans began in Dublin. Lead by Patrick Pearse and James Conolly, the armed volunteer took control of locations in Dublin and issued the Proclamation of the Republic. 

(General Post Office, a location seized during the uprising and where the leaders were captured.)

On April 29th, after holing up in the General Post Office, the Irish were forced to surrender to the British. 3,000 people were arrested and on May 2, 90 were sentenced to death. The seven signatories of the proclamation were among those to be killed. They were held in Kilmanham Gaol and executed within the complex. 

The seven signatories were Thomas J. Clarke, Sean Mac Diarmada, Thomas MacDonagh, P.H. Pearse, Eamonn Ceannt, James Connolly and Joseph Plunkett. Future Ireland president Eamon de Valera was also imprisoned but was not executed and eventually released.

(Memorial in Kilmainham Gaol where the leaders were executed)

Hours before his execution, Joseph Plunkett was married in the gaol to his sweetheart Grace Gifford. The ceremony was held in the chapel by candlelight with British soldiers as witnesses and no family members present. They were only allowed ten minutes together before he was executed. 

After the failed uprising, others began plotting to create a free and independent Irish state. Eamon de Valera and Michael Collins were the leaders of the Irish War of Independence. 

(de Valera is second from left with Collins on the right)