The Events of Easter Week 1916

Easter Monday, 24 April

• On Easter Monday, while most Dubliners enjoyed the bank holiday, approximately 700 Volunteers and members of the Irish Citizen Army (ICA) gathered at Liberty Hall before marching to various strategic locations around the city.

• They were well-organised, and their appearance did not immediately raise suspicion, as many were accustomed to seeing such military-style manoeuvres.

• However, by the end of the week, their ranks had grown to 1,300 Volunteers and 219 ICA members.

• Different battalions took over key positions in the city:

  • The 1st Battalion, led by Edward Daly, took control of the Four Courts.
  • The 2nd Battalion, under Thomas MacDonagh, established itself at Jacob's Mills.
  • The 3rd Battalion, commanded by Éamon de Valera, occupied Boland's Bakery.
  • The 4th Battalion, led by Éamonn Ceannt, took over the South Dublin Union Workhouse.
  • Michael Mallin and Countess Markievicz led an ICA contingent that seized St. Stephen's Green and, later, the Royal College of Surgeons.
  • Another ICA group under Seán Connolly attacked Dublin Castle before moving on to secure Dublin City Hall.
  • The General Post Office (GPO) on O'Connell Street was chosen as the rebellion's headquarters. Here, Patrick Pearse stood before a curious crowd and read aloud the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, declaring establishing a Provisional Government of the Irish Republic.
  • This document was signed by all seven members of the IRB's Military Council. Above the GPO, a green flag emblazoned with the words "Irish Republic" was raised.

• At the time, Dublin had only about 1,500 armed police and 2,500 British soldiers, many of whom were attending the Fairyhouse Races outside the city.

• By 1:15 p.m., British troops moving toward the GPO were met with fierce resistance, forcing them to retreat with casualties.

Tuesday, 25 April

• Despite being smaller in number, the rebels sought to bolster morale by publishing a newspaper, The Irish War News, claiming they controlled the entire city centre.

• This was largely an attempt to encourage more people to join the uprising and to raise spirits among the insurgents.

• That evening, Brigadier-General William Lowe arrived in Dublin and declared martial law. He quickly surrounded the city centre with troops, aiming to prevent any rebels from escaping or receiving reinforcements from the southern side of the River Liffey.

  

• Lowe authorized the use of 18-pounder artillery to break the rebels' defences. Despite the heavy bombardment, the rebels managed to maintain control of most of their positions.

Wednesday, 26 April

• Wednesday marked the rebels' most successful day. British reinforcements, including the 2nd Sherwood Foresters Brigade, entered Dublin and headed towards the city centre.
• As they approached Mount Street Bridge, Éamon de Valera's men, who had fortified Boland's Bakery, met them with intense resistance.
• For ten hours, 17 Volunteers held off the British, inflicting over 224 casualties among the soldiers.
• Meanwhile, the British gunboat Helga sailed into Dublin Bay and began shelling Sackville Street (now O'Connell Street), causing widespread destruction.
• The British forces then shifted their focus to the GPO, the heart of the rebellion.

Thursday, 27 April

• By Thursday evening, much of Dublin's city centre was ablaze.
• The GPO was severely damaged by artillery fire, and by this point, 12,000 British troops were engaged in suppressing the rebellion.
• James Connolly, one of the rebellion's key leaders, was seriously wounded in the fighting.

Friday, 28 April

• On Friday, General Sir John Maxwell arrived with orders to crush the uprising and restore order to the city.
• The GPO continued to take heavy artillery fire, with its roof on the verge of collapse. Patrick Pearse gave a final speech to the rebels, urging them to continue fighting despite the odds.
• Later that day, the remaining rebels evacuated the GPO, retreating to Moore Street, a densely packed slum area.
• However, British troops quickly moved to block any further retreat, trapping the insurgents.

Saturday, 29 April

• By Saturday, it became clear that the situation was hopeless. Despite fierce debate among the leaders, particularly from Tom Clarke, it was decided that surrender was the only option to prevent further loss of life, particularly among civilians.
• Elizabeth O'Farrell, a nurse from Cumann na mBan, was sent to deliver Pearse's surrender note to General Lowe. The British insisted on an unconditional surrender.
• Pearse, though reluctant, agreed to these terms. O'Farrell was then tasked with carrying the surrender orders to the remaining rebel positions.
• Many of the insurgents were shocked at the news, believing they had been winning.
• Despite the confusion, only Edward Daly surrendered on Saturday. The rest of the rebel forces surrendered the following day.

Sunday, 30 April

• By Sunday, the fighting had ceased, and peace was restored in Dublin. Over 450 people had died, around 300 of them civilians, and 2,614 were injured.
• The city centre was left in ruins, with damage to property estimated at £2 million.

The Rising Outside Dublin

• The original plan had been for a nationwide rebellion, but due to the confusion and communication breakdowns, little activity occurred outside Dublin.
• One significant event took place in Ashbourne, Co. Meath, where Volunteers led by Thomas Ashe successfully captured four police barracks.
• The Volunteers remained in control of the area until news of the Dublin surrender reached them on Saturday, 29 April.
• In Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Volunteers took control of the town, blocking the railway to prevent British reinforcements from reaching Dublin. They held the town for four days, facing only minor skirmishes before surrendering.
• In Galway, Volunteers under Liam Mellows briefly held the town of Athenry.
• In Cork, Volunteers led by Tomás Mac Curtain took control of Volunteer Hall but, after a week-long standoff, dispersed and returned home when faced with overwhelming British forces. Mac Curtain was later arrested and imprisoned.
• Following the Rising, the British launched a nationwide crackdown on rebel sympathisers. In Castlelyons, Co. Cork, they attempted to arrest the Kent brothers, well-known Volunteers.
• The ensuing confrontation left one brother dead and the others captured. Thomas Kent was tried, sentenced to death, and executed on 9 May 1916 at Victoria Barracks in Cork.
  • Though ultimately unsuccessful, the Easter Rising had a profound impact on Ireland's struggle for independence, galvanising public opinion and setting the stage for the War of Independence that would follow.

Quick Recap Q&A

Something a little different here, but reading simple sample answers can make a big difference in aiding understanding and deeper context when it comes to history. Hopefully, this little Q&A will prove helpful.

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1. Briefly outline the main events of the Easter Rising from Monday, 24 April to Sunday, 30 April.

• The Easter Rising began on Monday, 24 April 1916, when about 1,300 Irish Volunteers and Irish Citizen Army members seized key locations across Dublin, including the General Post Office (GPO), which became their headquarters.
• Patrick Pearse read the Proclamation of the Irish Republic there, declaring independence from Britain. Over the next few days, the rebels fought fiercely against British forces, who responded with heavy artillery and reinforcements.
• On Wednesday, British troops suffered significant losses at Mount Street Bridge. By Thursday, much of Dublin's city centre was on fire, and by Friday, the GPO was in ruins.
• Realising their situation was hopeless, the leaders decided to surrender on Saturday, 29 April to prevent further bloodshed, and the Rising ended the next day.

2. What was the insurgents' newspaper called? Why do you think they published a newspaper?

• The insurgents' newspaper was called The Irish War News. The rebels published it to boost morale among their fighters and the general public, who might have been unsure of what was happening.
• By claiming control of Dublin's city centre, the newspaper aimed to encourage more people to join the Rising and show that the rebels were strong and organised.
• In a time before social media and instant news, a printed newspaper was an important way to communicate and spread their message of independence, showing the world that they were fighting for a cause and not just engaging in random violence.

3. Who declared martial law in Ireland and when? What does 'martial law' mean?

• Brigadier-General William Lowe declared martial law in Ireland on Tuesday, 25 April 1916, shortly after arriving in Dublin to take control of the situation.
• Martial law means that the military takes over the functions of government, replacing normal civil law.
• Under martial law, the army acts as the police force and can arrest and detain people without the usual legal processes.
• In Dublin during the Easter Rising, martial law allowed the British military to crack down on the rebels quickly and harshly, using military courts and severe punishments to restore order.

4. Why did Pearse decide to surrender on Saturday, 29 April?

• Patrick Pearse decided to surrender on Saturday, 29 April, because the situation for the rebels had become hopeless.
• By then, the General Post Office (GPO) was heavily damaged, on fire, and close to collapse.
• The British forces had surrounded the remaining rebels, and many of their leaders, including James Connolly, were severely wounded.
• Pearse realised that continuing to fight would only lead to more deaths, particularly of innocent civilians, without achieving any meaningful victory.
• By surrendering, Pearse hoped to save lives and prevent further destruction, even though it meant the end of the Rising and likely harsh consequences for himself and the other leaders.

5. List the areas outside Dublin where rebels were active. The Easter Rising saw limited action outside of Dublin due to confusion and poor communication. However, some significant events occurred:

• In Ashbourne, Co. Meath, Volunteers led by Thomas Ashe captured four police barracks and held the area until they learned of the surrender in Dublin.
• In Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Volunteers took control of the town, blocked the railway, and held it for four days.
• In Galway, under Liam Mellows, Volunteers briefly took control of Athenry.
• In Cork, Volunteers led by Tomás Mac Curtain occupied Volunteer Hall but eventually dispersed after a week-long standoff with British forces.