This question contains extracts from three letters written at the time of the Easter Rising, 1916 - Junior Cycle History - Question 6 - 2023

Eoin MacNeill attempted to cancel the Rising upon discovering that the 'Castle Document' was a forgery. His concern stemmed from a lack of planning by Dublin Castle to disarm the Irish Volunteers, leading him to believe that their safety and effectiveness were undermined.

In Letter 2, Éamon de Valera asked his wife to pray for him and to kiss their children. He also wanted her to tell the children that their father died doing his duty, showcasing his deep sense of responsibility.

De Valera noted that had MacNeill allowed the Rising to proceed as planned on Sunday, they could have maintained their position for months. He emphasized that he would have had at least five times more men available to defend the strategically important site.

Éamon de Valera was in Kilmainham Prison when he wrote Letter 3. This indicates the precarious situation he found himself in after the Rising.

De Valera was sentenced to be shot for his participation in the Easter Rising, reflecting the harsh penalties imposed on leaders of the Rising.

De Valera asked Jack to help his wife by giving her advice on what she should do with their children. Additionally, he asked Jack to remember him to his mother, Sherwin, and others, asking for prayers on his behalf.

The 1916 Rising ended in military failure due to several critical factors. Firstly, the British army had a significant numerical advantage, with troops readily arriving from the Curragh and England, leading to a 2-to-1 ratio against the Irish Volunteers. Secondly, the British forces were better equipped with more advanced weaponry and ammunition. They utilized naval support from the gunboat 'Helga', which targeted the insurgents' positions. Furthermore, the Irish Volunteers' occupation of buildings became a tactical mistake, as it hindered their ability to defend against the concentrated British forces focused on Dublin.