The Easter Rising, The Heroes, The Legacy
Sean MacDiarmada (1883-1916) – Irish Revolutionary Leader and Easter Rising Architect Sean MacDiarmada was born on February 28, 1883, in Kiltyclogher, County Leitrim, Ireland. His parents, Patrick and Mary, were traditional Irish Catholic farmers who worked hard to provide for their large family. Sean was the second youngest of seven children and grew up in …
Thomas Clarke (1858-1916) – Irish Republican Brotherhood, Irish Volunteers, Leader Thomas James Clarke was born in Hurst Castle, Isle of Wight, England, in 1858. His father was a soldier, and the family moved frequently throughout Clarke’s childhood. Clarke grew up in a military family and was educated in England before moving to the United States …
Roger Casement (1864-1916) – Irish Patriot and Humanitarian Roger Casement was born in Dublin in 1864 to an Anglo-Irish Protestant family. He attended school in Ballymena and later worked for the British colonial service in Africa, where he witnessed the brutal exploitation of native peoples by European powers. This experience awakened his sense of justice …
Margaret Skinnider (1892-1971) – Schoolteacher, Sniper Margaret Skinnider was born on January 18, 1892 in Coatbridge, Scotland. She was the daughter of John Skinnider and Margaret Hanlon, and had three sisters. The Skinnider family moved to Glasgow when Margaret was young, where she became involved in socialist and feminist activism. In 1911, Margaret moved to …
Countess Markievicz (1868-1927) – Irish Suffragette and Revolutionary Countess Markievicz, born Constance Georgine Gore-Booth, was an Irish revolutionary, suffragette, and politician. She was the daughter of an Anglo-Irish landlord and an Irish artist. In 1900, she married a Polish count, Casimir Markievicz, and became a countess. Markievicz was actively involved in charitable work throughout her …
Thomas Kent (1865-1916): Irish Patriot and Independence Fighter Thomas Kent was born on March 29, 1865, in Castlelyons, County Cork, Ireland. He was the third of four brothers and two sisters, born to David Kent and Mary Rice Kent. Kent was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and was actively involved in the …
Joseph Mary Plunkett (1887-1916) – Irish Revolutionary, Poet Joseph Mary Plunkett was born on November 21, 1887, in Dublin, Ireland. He was the son of George Noble Plunkett and Mary Josephine Plunkett, and he had three sisters and two brothers. Plunkett met his best friend, Thomas MacDonagh, while looking for an Irish language tutor. They …
Thomas MacDonagh (1878-1916) – Irish Poet, Playwright, and Easter Rising Leader Thomas MacDonagh was an Irish poet, playwright, and Easter Rising leader who fought for Irish independence. He was born on February 1, 1878, in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary, to Joseph and Mary MacDonagh. He had two brothers and a sister. MacDonagh was a talented writer …
Willie Pearse (1891-1916) – Irish Artist, Activist, and Easter Rising Martyr Willie Pearse was an Irish artist, political activist, and Easter Rising martyr who fought for Irish independence. Born in Dublin in 1891, he was the younger brother of Patrick Pearse, one of the leaders of the Easter Rising. During the Easter Rising of 1916, …
Michael O’Hanrahan (1877 – 1916) – Irish Republican Brotherhood, Cmd 2nd Battalion Michael O’Hanrahan was an Irish revolutionary who played a key role in the fight for Irish independence. Born in New Ross, County Wexford, O’Hanrahan grew up in a family of seven children and was deeply influenced by his father’s nationalist beliefs. He became …