Skip to main content

James Connolly

Image
By Patrick Conlan

 



James Connolly
1868-1916


James Connolly was a revolutionary socialist, a trade union leader and a political theorist. His execution by firing squad after the Easter Rising, supported by a chair because of his wounds, significantly contributed to the mood of bitterness in Ireland.


On Easter Monday, 24th April, he led the Headquarters Battalion from Liberty Hall to the General Post Office and commanded military operations there throughout the week – supervising the construction of defences, determining and adjusting strategy, summoning reinforcements and deciding on the disposition of his forces. That only nine volunteers in the post office garrison died during the fighting is testimony to his talents. He himself took constant risks with his own safety but even after being severely wounded on 27th April, he remained, as Patrick Pearse said, "still the guiding brain of our resistance".

At noon on Saturday 29th April, Connolly supported the majority view of the leaders that they should surrender as he ‘could not bear to see his brave boys burnt to death’. His expectation was that the Rising`s organisers would be shot and the rest set free. Under military escort, Connolly was carried to the Red Cross hospital at Dublin Castle where hours later he signed Pearse`s surrender order on behalf of the Irish Citizen Army. He was court-martialled there, propped up in his bed, on 9th May. At his trial he read a brief hand-written statement which stated that: ‘The cause of Irish freedom is safe … as long as … Irishmen are ready to die endeavouring to win [it]’. His execution took place at Kilmainham Gaol after dawn on 12th May – he was the last of the rebel leaders to face the firing squad.



Labels:
Location: O'Connell Street Lower, North City, Dublin 1, Ireland

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Butterflies: Messengers of Irish Folklore

By Patrick Conlan
According to Irish folklore, butterflies are said to move between worlds and bring messages and warnings. They are said to be souls, waiting to be reborn on earth. This is perhaps why butterflies still play such a prominent role in material culture today, with a wide range of clothes, stationary, and other good coming decorated with butterflies. Butterflies with dark wings were said to warn of bad news such as an attack or failed crop, while white and yellow butterflies were told to bring good news such as a birth or success. In Irish mythology and folklore, butterflies have a special significance. According to Irish tradition, butterflies are believed to move between worlds and bring messages and warnings. They are considered to be souls waiting to be reborn on earth. This belief has contributed to the continued popularity of butterflies in modern-day material culture. Butterflies can be seen on a wide range of clothes, stationery, and other goods. Interestingly, the colour of the but...
Post a Comment
You might like

Discovering Anamchara The Celtic Soul mate

By Patrick Conlan
  Anamchara Soul mate In the Celtic tradition, there is a beautiful understanding of love and friendship. One of the fascinating ideas here is the idea of soul-love; the old Gaelic term for this is anamchara. Anam is the Gaelic word for soul and chara is the word for friend.So anamchara in the Celtic world was the “soul friend.”With the anamchara you could share your inner-most self, your mind and your heart. This friendship was an act of recognition and belonging. When you had an anamchara, your friendship cut across all convention, morality, and category. You were joined in an ancient and eternal way with the “friend of your soul.”The Celtic understanding did not set limitations of space or time on the soul. There is no cage for the soul. The soul is a divine light that flows into you and into your Other. Learn More
Post a Comment
You might like

The Burning Of Cork

By Patrick Conlan
The burning of Cork by British forces, took place during the Irish War of Independence on the night of 11th and 12th of December 1920.  The black and tans and british soldiers burned homes in the city, before looting and burning numerous buildings in the centre of Cork, Ireland's third-biggest city...  Many Irish civilians reported being beaten, shot at, and robbed by British forces.  Firefighters testified that British forces hindered their attempts to tackle the blazes by intimidation, cutting their hoses and shooting at them.  Two unarmed Irish men were also shot dead at their home in the north of the city. More than 40 business premises, 300 residential properties, the City Hall and Carnegie Library were destroyed by fires, many of which were started by British forces using incendiary bombs.  The economic damage was estimated at over £3 million (equivalent to approximately 150 million in 2022), while 2,000 were left jobless and many more became homeless... B...
Post a Comment
You might like