Political Facts about Easter Rising
Part I
Irish Men and Irish Women / Political Statements
1. The Irish Proclamation of the independence, (the first official political document of the Republic) addresses Irish women as well as men.
, ‘ IRISHMEN AND IRISHWOMEN: in the name of God and of the dead generations from which she receives her old tradition of nationhood, Ireland, through us, summons her children to her flag and strikes for her freedom
The document was read for the first time on April 24th, 1916 by Patrick Pearse.
Women continued to play a role in politics as well as rebellion, notably Constance Markievicz, Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, and Kathleen Lynn who was a doctor.
. Francis Skeffington took his wife’s name of Sheehy when they married.
He was known as Francis Sheehy Skeffington his whole life, probably not a great political action for the times. In addition, Francis was a pacifist. When he attempted to stop looting in Dublin, he was arrested and murdered by a British Captain during the Easter Rising on April 26th, 1916. He was only 37.
3.Michael Collins was a master of disguise, a financial genius, and involved in rebellion as well as the War of Independence. Although born in Co. Cork, he lived in London until an attempt to draft Irishmen into the British army occurred in WWI. To avoid conscription, Collins moved to Dublin. The first thing he did was look for employment in Nellie Gifford’s employment agency called the ‘Burra.’
4. Patrick Pearse who is credited with drafting most of the Proclamation and leading the Rising, had a habitual stutter which he had to control during his famous oration speech at O’Donovan Ross’s funeral. It is one of the most well-known speeches in Irish history. Well done, Pat!
“They think that they have pacified Ireland. They think that they have purchased half of us and intimidated the other half. They think that they have foreseen everything, think that they have provided against everything; but the fools, the fools, the fools! – they have left us our Fenian dead, and while Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree shall never be at peace.”
A woman delivered the surrender note under heavy fire!
5. Elizabeth O’Farrell was not political at all.
As a nurse, she stepped out on Moore Street during heavy fire waving a white handkerchief tied to a stick. She delivered the surrender notice to the British army general, William Lowe. During the Rising she acted as dispatcher, dodging bullets all over Dublin. She also cared for the wounded, one of which was the leader of the Irish Citizen Army, James Connolly.
Interested in more about women who fought for Ireland’s freedom?