The Sinn Fein Rebellion as I Saw It

Each story keeps the passage it was read from. Open one to read the passage as the book has it, and, where the companion has written its own telling, that too.

1. Proclamation of the Irish Republic posted at the GPO

   General Post Office · site · Dublin · 1916

   The Provisional Government's proclamation declaring the Irish Republic was posted outside the General Post Office, asserting Ireland's sovereign right to independence and signed by the seven leaders of the rebellion.

   Read the passage

   WE DECLARE the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland, and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies, to be sovereign and indefeasible. The long usurpation of that right by a foreign people and Government has not extinguished the right, nor can it ever be extinguished except by the destruction of the Irish people. In every generation the Irish people have asserted their right to national freedom and sovereignty; six times during the past three hundred years they have asserted it in arms. Standing on that fundamental right and again asserting it in arms in the face of the world, we hereby proclaim the Irish Republic as a Sovereign Independent State, and we pledge our lives and the lives of our comrades-in-arms to the cause of its freedom, of its welfare, and of its exaltation among the nations.

   THE IRISH REPUBLIC is entitled to, and HEREBY CLAIMS, the allegiance of every Irishman and Irishwoman. The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and of all its parts, cherishing all the children of the Nation equally, and oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an Alien Government, which have divided a minority from the majority in the past.

   Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 6

   As the companion tells it

   This is the place. The General Post Office on O'Connell Street in Dublin, and right beside the road is where the Proclamation of the Irish Republic was posted in 1916. The Provisional Government declared the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies, calling that right sovereign and indefeasible. They said the long usurpation of that right by a foreign people and government had not extinguished it, nor could it ever be, except by the destruction of the Irish people. In every generation the Irish people had asserted their right to national freedom, and six times during the past 300 years they had asserted it in arms. Standing on that fundamental right and again asserting it in arms, they proclaimed the Irish Republic as a sovereign independent state, and pledged their lives and the lives of their comrades in arms to the cause of its freedom. The Republic claimed the allegiance of every Irishman and Irishwoman. It guaranteed religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all citizens, and declared its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation, cherishing all the children of the nation equally. It was signed by the seven leaders of the rebellion.

2. Pearse's final dispatch from GPO headquarters before surrender

   General Post Office · site · Dublin · 1916

   From the besieged General Post Office, Pearse issued a dispatch praising the gallantry of the rebel forces during four days of fighting under bombardment, naming the wounded Connolly as guiding the resistance, shortly before the unconditional surrender.

   Read the passage

   We are busy completing arrangements for the final defence of Headquarters and are determined to hold it while the buildings last.

   I desire now, lest I may not have an opportunity later, to pay homage to the gallantry of the soldiers of Irish Freedom who have during the past four days been writing with fire and steel the most glorious chapter in the later history of Ireland. Justice can never be done to their heroism, to their discipline, to their gay and unconquerable spirit in the midst of peril and death.

   Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 7

   As the companion tells it

   Here is the General Post Office, where Pearse sent his final dispatch in 1916, as the building burned under bombardment. He wrote that they were determined to hold it while the buildings lasted, and paid homage to the soldiers of Irish Freedom who had spent four days "writing with fire and steel the most glorious chapter in the later history of Ireland." The wounded Connolly was still guiding the resistance. Shortly after this dispatch, Pearse ordered the unconditional surrender.

3. Woman shot dead looting in Grafton Street

   Grafton Street · street · Dublin · 1916

   During the looting near Grafton Street, a woman was seen hanging out of a window dropping loot to a friend when she was shot through the head by a sniper; her body was later collected by a hand-cart while looting resumed.

   Read the passage

   Yesterday afternoon, when the firing in Grafton Street was over, the mob appeared and looted the shops, clearing the great provision shops and others. From the back of this hotel you look down on an alley that connects with Grafton Street,--and at the corner, the shop front in Grafton Street, but with a side entrance into this lane, is a very large and high-class fruiterer. From the windows we watched the proceedings, and I never saw anything so brazen! The mob were chiefly women and children, with a sprinkling of men. They swarmed in and out of the side door bearing huge consignments of bananas, the great bunches on the stalk, to which the children attached a cord and ran away dragging it along. Other boys had big orange boxes which they filled with tinned and bottled fruits. Women with their skirts held up received showers of apples and oranges and all kinds of fruit which were thrown from the upper windows by their pals; and ankle-deep on the ground lay all the pink and white and silver paper and paper shavings used for packing choice fruits. It was an amazing sight, and nothing daunted these people. Higher up at another shop we were told a woman was hanging out of a window dropping down loot to a friend, when she was shot through the head by a sniper, probably our man; the body dropped into the street and the mob cleared. In a few minutes a hand-cart appeared and gathered up the body, and instantly all the mob swarmed back to continue the joyful proceedings!

   H. and Lord S. were sitting at the window for a few minutes yesterday when the fruit shop was being looted, and saw one of the funniest sights they had ever seen. A very fat, very blousy old woman emerged from the side street and staggered on to the pavement laden with far more loot than she could carry. In her arms she had an orange box full of fruit, and under her shawl she had a great bundle tied up which kept slipping down. Having reached the pavement, she put down her box and sat on it, and from her bundle rolled forth many tins of fruit. These she surveyed ruefully, calling on the Almighty and all the saints to help her!! From these she solemnly made her selection, which she bound up in her bundle and hoisted, with many groans and lamentations, on her back and made off with, casting back many longing looks at the pile of things left on the pavement, which were speedily disposed of by small boys.

   Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 2

   As the companion tells it

   Along here in 1916, once the firing was over, a mob swarmed into the shops and cleared them out. Women held up their skirts to catch apples and oranges thrown from upper windows, children dragged great bunches of bananas along the street, and the ground was ankle-deep in pink and white packing paper. Higher up this street, a woman was seen hanging out of a window dropping loot down to a friend when she was shot through the head by a sniper. Her body dropped into the street and the mob cleared for a moment. Then a hand-cart came and gathered her up, and straight away the crowd swarmed back to carry on. One witness called it "the joyful proceedings" — nothing daunted them. From a hotel window looking down on a lane that connects with this street, the onlookers saw a fat old woman emerge with an orange box of fruit and a great bundle under her shawl that kept slipping. She sat down on her box and tins of fruit rolled out, and she called on the Almighty and all the saints to help her, before selecting what she could carry, hoisting it on her back, and staggering off with many groans. Small boys made off with what she left behind.

4. Heroic telephone girls hold the Exchange under fire

   Crown Alley · street · Dublin · 1916

   The Telephone Exchange in Crown Alley was besieged by Sinn Féin attempts to capture it, with shots entering the switch-room and eight snipers shot on nearby buildings. Twenty telephone girls stayed at their posts continuously since Tuesday, sleeping in a cellar, keeping the whole service running.

   Read the passage

   Here I must tell you how absolutely heroic the telephone staff have been at the Exchange. It is in a building a considerable distance from the G.P.O., and the Sinn Feiners have made great efforts to capture it. The girls have been surrounded by firing; shots have several times come into the switch-room, where the men took down the boards from the back of the switch-boards and arranged them as shelters over the girls' heads to protect them from bullets and broken glass. Eight snipers have been shot on buildings commanding the Exchange, and one of the guard was killed yesterday; and these twenty girls have never failed. They have been on duty since Tuesday, sleeping when possible in a cellar and with indifferent food, and have cheerfully and devotedly stuck to their post, doing the work of forty. Only those on duty on the outbreak of the rebellion could remain; those in their homes could never get back, so with the aid of the men who take the night duty these girls have kept the whole service going. All telegrams have had to be sent by 'phone as far as the railway termini, and they have simply saved the situation. It has been magnificent!

   The shooting is by no means over, as many of the Sinn Fein strongholds refuse to surrender. Jacob's biscuit factory is very strongly held, and when the rebels were called on to surrender they refused unless they were allowed to march out carrying their arms!

   Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 3

   As the companion tells it

   Along this street in Dublin stood the Telephone Exchange, some distance from the General Post Office, and in 1916 the Sinn Féin rebels made great efforts to capture it. Twenty telephone girls stayed at their posts without fail. They had been on duty since Tuesday, sleeping in a cellar when they could, with indifferent food, and doing the work of forty. Shots came into the switch-room several times, and the men took boards from the back of the switchboards to make shelters over the girls' heads against bullets and broken glass. Eight snipers were shot on buildings commanding the Exchange, and one of the guard was killed. Only the girls on duty when the rebellion broke out could remain; those at home could never get back. With the men who took night duty, these girls kept the whole service going. All telegrams had to be sent by phone to the railway termini, and as someone wrote at the time, they had "simply saved the situation."

5. Old woman's warning saves the Telephone Exchange

   Crown Alley · street · Dublin · 1916

   H. learned that when rebels marched a detachment to take the Crown Alley Telephone Exchange, an old woman rushed at them warning the place was crammed with military, causing them to retreat; troops arrived hours later and secured it, saving the whole communications situation.

   Read the passage

   Yesterday H. visited the Telephone Exchange, and a point was cleared up that has mystified everyone; and that is why, when the rebels on Easter Monday took every building of importance and every strategic position, did they overlook the Telephone Exchange? Had they taken it we should have been absolutely powerless, unable to send messages or telegrams for troops. The exchange is situated in Crown Alley, off Dame Street, and the superintendent told H. an extraordinary story. It seems when the rebels had taken the G.P.O. they marched a detachment to take the exchange, when just as they were turning into Crown Alley an old woman rushed towards them with arms held up calling out, "Go back, boys, go back; the place is crammed with military"; and supposing it to be in the hands of our troops they turned back. This was at noon. At 5 p.m. our troops arrived and took it over.

   This saved the whole situation. Whether the woman was on our side or whether she thought she had seen soldiers will never be known.

   Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 3

   As the companion tells it

   Along here on Crown Alley, off Dame Street, there is a telephone exchange that became one of the great what-ifs of Easter Monday 1916. The rebels had taken the GPO and marched a detachment to seize this exchange, which would have left the authorities unable to send messages or telegrams for troops. But just as they were turning into Crown Alley, an old woman rushed towards them with arms held up calling out, "Go back, boys, go back; the place is crammed with military." The rebels turned back, supposing the building was already in the hands of the military. It was not, but at 5 p.m. that day troops arrived and took it over. The superintendent who told this story said it saved the whole situation. Whether the woman was on the side of the authorities, or whether she thought she had seen soldiers, was never known.

6. Sherwood Foresters ambushed at Ballsbridge

   near Ballsbridge · townland · Dublin · 1916

   Troops landed at Kingstown were cheered by the population, but on marching into Dublin the Sherwood Foresters came under sudden and devastating cross-fire from Sinn Fein-occupied houses at Ballsbridge, suffering many casualties before they could return fire.

   Read the passage

   Lord S. tells me that 30,000 troops were landed at Kingstown this morning, and we hear they are amazed at their reception, as they had been told that they were going to quell a rebellion in Ireland, and lo! on their arrival at Kingstown the whole population turned out to cheer them, giving them food, cigarettes, chocolate, and everything the hospitable inhabitants could provide, so that the puzzled troops asked plaintively: "Who then are we going to fight, and where is the rebellion?" However, they were quickly disillusioned, for in marching into Dublin, when they reached Ballsbridge they came within range of several houses occupied by Sinn Feiners, and without a word of warning the battalion of Sherwood Foresters came under terrible cross-fire and were just shot down, unable to return a single shot. I have not heard how many casualties occurred, but two or three officers and many men were killed and a number wounded. So surely soon we must be relieved.

   _Thursday, April 27th._

   Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 1

   As the companion tells it

   Somewhere around here, in 1916, the Sherwood Foresters walked into an ambush. They had landed at Kingstown that morning, part of 30,000 troops brought in to put down the rebellion. The troops were baffled by their welcome. The whole population turned out to cheer them, giving them food, cigarettes, chocolate, everything the people could provide. The soldiers asked plaintively: "Who then are we going to fight, and where is the rebellion?" They were quickly disillusioned. Marching into Dublin, when they reached Ballsbridge, they came within range of several houses occupied by Sinn Feiners. Without a word of warning the battalion came under terrible cross-fire. They were just shot down, unable to return a single shot. Two or three officers and many men were killed, and a number wounded. This was Thursday, April 27th.

7. Surrender of Jacob's, Boland's and College of Surgeons

   Grafton Street · street · Dublin · 1916

   Three rebel strongholds surrendered on the same afternoon: Jacob's factory, Boland's Mill, and the College of Surgeons on St. Stephen's Green, from which 160 men marched down Grafton Street under guard.

   Read the passage

   I had no time to continue this yesterday, but during the afternoon three of the rebel strongholds surrendered--Jacob's, Boland's, and the College of Surgeons on St. Stephen's Green. From this last building 160 men surrendered and were marched down Grafton Street. It is said that among them was Countess Markievicz, dressed in a man's uniform. It is also said that the military made her take down the green republican flag flying over the building herself and replace it by a white one: when she surrendered she took off her bandolier and kissed it and her revolver before handing them to the officer. She has been one of the most dangerous of the leaders, and I hope will be treated with the same severity as the men. People who saw them marched down Grafton Street said they held themselves erect, and looked absolutely defiant!

   _2 p.m._

   Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 3

   As the companion tells it

   Along here, on the afternoon of the surrender in 1916, 160 men were marched down Grafton Street after giving up the College of Surgeons on St. Stephen's Green. Jacob's factory and Boland's Mill surrendered that same afternoon. Among those who came out of the College of Surgeons was Countess Markievicz, dressed in a man's uniform. The military made her take down the green republican flag flying over the building herself and replace it with a white one. When she surrendered she took off her bandolier and kissed it, and kissed her revolver, before handing them to the officer. People who saw the rebels marched down this street said they held themselves erect and looked absolutely defiant.

8. Ruins of the GPO surveyed after the fire

   General Post Office · site · Dublin · 1916

   The narrator walked round the gutted GPO with H. and officials, describing total desolation comparable to Ypres or Louvain, with the safe still visible in the wall and molten lead debris scattered about.

   Read the passage

   I have just returned from walking round the G.P.O. and Sackville Street with H. and some of the officials. It passes all my powers of description, only one word describes it, "Desolation." If you look at pictures of Yprès or Louvain after the bombardment it will give you some idea of the scene.

   We looked up through the windows of the G.P.O. and saw the safe that was in H.'s room still in the wall, and the door does not appear to have been opened or the safe touched, but the whole place has been such an inferno one would think the door must have been red-hot. Among all the _débris_ the fire was still smouldering, and we could not penetrate inside. I picked up a great lump of molten metal, a fantastic shape with bits of glass embedded in it. It is bright like silver, but they tell me it is lead. It is quite curious. Do you realise, G., that out of all H.'s library he now does not possess a single book, except one volume of his Dante, and I not even a silver teaspoon!!

   Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 3

   As the companion tells it

   Right here is the site of the General Post Office, Dublin, after the fire of 1916. The narrator walked round the gutted building with H. and some officials, and found one word for it: "Desolation." He said it was like looking at pictures of Ypres or Louvain after bombardment. Through the windows they could see the safe still fixed in the wall of H.'s room, its door apparently untouched, though the heat must have been intense. The fire was still smouldering among the debris, and they could not get inside. He picked up a great lump of molten metal, a fantastic shape with bits of glass embedded in it, bright like silver, though they told him it was lead. Out of all H.'s library not a single book survived except one volume of his Dante.

9. Last shots fired in Dawson Street

   Dawson Street · street · Dublin · 1916

   On the final night, firing broke out just outside the hotel targeting the Sinn Fein Volunteers' offices at the bottom of Dawson Street, forcing the narrator's party to shelter on the stairs; it proved to be the last shots of the rebellion.

   Read the passage

   Since then we have not heard a shot fired; and it would seem that as we were present at the first shots fired in Sackville Street on Easter Monday so we have been present at the last fired eight days later in Dawson Street.

   Out of all the novel experiences of the last eight days two things strike me very forcibly. The first is that, under circumstances that might well have tried the nerves of the strongest, there has been no trace of fear or panic among the people in the hotel, either among the guests or staff. Anxiety for absent friends of whom no tidings could be heard, though living only in the next square, one both felt and heard; but of fear for their own personal safety I have seen not one trace, and the noise of battle after the first two days seemed to produce nothing but boredom. The other is a total absence of thankfulness at our own escape.

   Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 3

   As the companion tells it

   Along here on Dawson Street, the last shots of the 1916 rebellion were fired, eight days after it began. The firing broke out just outside the hotel, targeting the Sinn Féin Volunteers' offices at the bottom of the street, and forced the narrator's party to shelter on the stairs. The same group had been present at the first shots fired in Sackville Street on Easter Monday, and now found themselves hearing the last. What struck the narrator was that through it all, there was no trace of fear or panic among the guests or staff. People felt anxiety for absent friends, even those living in the next square, but personal fear seemed absent. By the final days, the noise of battle had produced nothing but boredom. And there was a total absence of thankfulness at their own escape.

10. Looting of the fruiterer's shop off Grafton Street

    Grafton Street · street · Dublin · 1916

    After firing ceased in Grafton Street, a mob of mostly women and children looted a large fruiterer's shop with a side entrance onto the lane behind the hotel, carrying off bananas, fruit and tinned goods in a chaotic scene.

    Read the passage

    Yesterday afternoon, when the firing in Grafton Street was over, the mob appeared and looted the shops, clearing the great provision shops and others. From the back of this hotel you look down on an alley that connects with Grafton Street,--and at the corner, the shop front in Grafton Street, but with a side entrance into this lane, is a very large and high-class fruiterer. From the windows we watched the proceedings, and I never saw anything so brazen! The mob were chiefly women and children, with a sprinkling of men. They swarmed in and out of the side door bearing huge consignments of bananas, the great bunches on the stalk, to which the children attached a cord and ran away dragging it along. Other boys had big orange boxes which they filled with tinned and bottled fruits. Women with their skirts held up received showers of apples and oranges and all kinds of fruit which were thrown from the upper windows by their pals; and ankle-deep on the ground lay all the pink and white and silver paper and paper shavings used for packing choice fruits. It was an amazing sight, and nothing daunted these people. Higher up at another shop we were told a woman was hanging out of a window dropping down loot to a friend, when she was shot through the head by a sniper, probably our man; the body dropped into the street and the mob cleared. In a few minutes a hand-cart appeared and gathered up the body, and instantly all the mob swarmed back to continue the joyful proceedings!

    H. and Lord S. were sitting at the window for a few minutes yesterday when the fruit shop was being looted, and saw one of the funniest sights they had ever seen. A very fat, very blousy old woman emerged from the side street and staggered on to the pavement laden with far more loot than she could carry. In her arms she had an orange box full of fruit, and under her shawl she had a great bundle tied up which kept slipping down. Having reached the pavement, she put down her box and sat on it, and from her bundle rolled forth many tins of fruit. These she surveyed ruefully, calling on the Almighty and all the saints to help her!! From these she solemnly made her selection, which she bound up in her bundle and hoisted, with many groans and lamentations, on her back and made off with, casting back many longing looks at the pile of things left on the pavement, which were speedily disposed of by small boys.

    Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 2

    As the companion tells it

    Along here on Grafton Street in Dublin, there was a large fruiterer's shop with a side entrance onto the lane behind the hotel. After the firing in Grafton Street was over in 1916, a mob appeared and looted the shops. The mob were chiefly women and children, with a sprinkling of men. They swarmed in and out of the side door bearing huge consignments of bananas, the great bunches on the stalk, to which the children attached a cord and ran away dragging them along. Other boys had big orange boxes which they filled with tinned and bottled fruits. Women with their skirts held up received showers of apples and oranges thrown from the upper windows by their pals. Ankle-deep on the ground lay all the pink and white and silver paper and paper shavings used for packing choice fruits. Nothing daunted these people. Higher up at another shop, a woman was hanging out of a window dropping down loot to a friend when she was shot through the head by a sniper. The body dropped into the street and the mob cleared. In a few minutes a hand-cart appeared and gathered up the body, and instantly all the mob swarmed back to continue. A very fat old woman emerged from the side street laden with far more loot than she could carry, an orange box full of fruit in her arms and a great bundle under her shawl that kept slipping down. She sat on the box and from her bundle rolled forth many tins of fruit. She surveyed them ruefully, calling on the Almighty and all the saints to help her, then made her selection, hoisted it on her back with many groans and lamentations, and made off, casting back longing looks at the pile left behind.

11. Doctor stopped at gunpoint in Nassau Street

    Nassau Street · street · Dublin · 1916

    Dr W. was stopped in Nassau Street by rebels who ordered him out of his car at gunpoint; being in civilian clothes he was allowed to proceed and went on to find men shot at the Shelbourne Hotel.

    Read the passage

    The first thing Dr. W. heard of the outbreak was a 'phone message telling him to go at once to the Shelbourne as a man had been shot. He supposed it was a case of suicide, so jumped into his car and went off, fortunately in mufti. In Nassau Street his car was stopped and he was ordered to get out by rebels. He attempted to argue, and was told if he did not obey instantly he would be shot. Had he been in uniform he would have been shot at sight. As a civilian doctor they allowed him to go, and he took his bag and ran. He found three men shot in the Shelbourne, and a boy was shot as he reached the door.

    _Wednesday, April 26th, 9.30 a.m._

    Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 1

    As the companion tells it

    Along here in 1916, a doctor received a phone message telling him to go at once to the Shelbourne Hotel because a man had been shot. He thought it was a case of suicide and jumped into his car, fortunately in civilian clothes. On this street, rebels stopped his car and ordered him to get out. When he tried to argue, they told him if he did not obey instantly he would be shot. Had he been in uniform he would have been shot at sight. As a civilian doctor they let him go, and he grabbed his bag and ran. He found three men shot in the Shelbourne, and a boy was shot as he reached the door.

12. Excavation of the burnt GPO reveals looted safe and destroyed possessions

    General Post Office · site · Dublin · 1916

    Excavation of H.'s room in the ruined GPO revealed that rebels had broken into the safe and stolen jewellery and F.'s field-glasses and commission, while books were reduced to ash-like layers and silver melted into unrecognisable lumps.

    Read the passage

    With this has gone our last hope of any salvage from the wreck of our property. Dillon's "perfect gentlemen," of whom he expressed himself so proud in the House the other night, had evidently broken open H.'s great official desk, and found the key of the safe and abstracted my jewel-case, F.'s field-glasses and several other of his much-prized possessions, and then locked the safe again. The only document they stole from among the official documents was F.'s commission. Why, we cannot imagine, unless the fact that it bore the King's signature made it worthy of special insult and desecration.

    H. was very sad when he told me, but I think I am past caring about any possessions now. F. and all his precious things are gone. Nothing else seems worth considering. Perhaps some day we may pluck up heart to collect things again around us, but at present one can only feel, "Let the dead bury the dead."

    Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 4

    As the companion tells it

    Coming up here at the General Post Office. After the 1916 rising, excavation of the ruins showed what had become of the property inside. Rebels had broken open H.'s official desk, found the key to the safe, and taken a jewel-case, F.'s field-glasses, and several other prized possessions, then locked the safe again. The only official document they stole was F.'s commission, which bore the King's signature. Books were reduced to ash-like layers and silver melted into unrecognisable lumps. The writer called the rebels Dillon's "perfect gentlemen" and noted that H. was very sad, but felt past caring about possessions with F. and all his precious things gone. One could only feel, in the writer's words, "Let the dead bury the dead."

13. Celbridge Abbey offered as refuge, linked to Swift and Grattan

    Celbridge Abbey · townland · Kildare · 1916

    The O'B.'s offered their house, Celbridge Abbey, as a retreat for several weeks; the narrator notes it was the historic home of Swift's 'Vanessa' and later of the orator Henry Grattan.

    Read the passage

    To-day Mr. O'B. brought his wife to see me, and they have offered us their lovely house, Celbridge Abbey, about ten miles from Dublin, for five or six weeks from June 1st as they are going abroad again, and they thought we should like it for a change. We are more than grateful, as all our plans for going to Greystones for June and July are knocked on the head; but to Celbridge there is a good train service, and H. can come into Dublin every day, while I can revel in the lovely garden and grounds and recover in the peace and quiet my lost powers of sleep. What a kind thought it is, and how welcome at such a time! Celbridge Abbey was the home of Swift's "Vanessa," and later of Grattan, Ireland's greatest orator, so is a most interesting and historical place.

    _17th._

    Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 4

14. Martial Law proclaimed across Ireland

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1916

    Lord Lieutenant Wimborne issued a proclamation from Dublin declaring all of Ireland under Martial Law for one month, citing armed resistance to Crown authority, deaths, injuries, and property damage caused by the rebellion.

    Read the passage

    DO HEREBY PROCLAIM that, from and after the date of this Proclamation, and for the period of one month thereafter (unless otherwise ordered), that part of the United Kingdom called Ireland is under and subject to Martial Law.

    AND I DO HEREBY call on all loyal and well-affected subjects of the Crown to aid in upholding and maintaining the peace of this Realm and the Supremacy and authority of the Crown, and to obey and conform to all Orders and Regulations of the Military Authority. And I warn all peaceable and law-abiding subjects in Ireland of the danger of frequenting, or being in, any place in or in the vicinity of which His Majesty's Forces are engaged in the suppression of disorder.

    Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 5

    As the companion tells it

    In 1916, from Dublin, Lord Lieutenant Wimborne issued a proclamation putting all of Ireland under Martial Law for one month. The proclamation cited armed resistance to the authority of the Crown, along with deaths, injuries, and damage to property caused by the rebellion. It called on all loyal subjects to aid in upholding the peace and the supremacy of the Crown, and to obey and conform to all orders and regulations of the Military Authority. It also warned peaceable and law-abiding subjects in Ireland of the danger of frequenting, or being in, any place where His Majesty's Forces were engaged in the suppression of disorder. The proclamation declared that Ireland was under Martial Law unless otherwise ordered.

15. Sinn Fein review held in College Green

    near College Green · street · Dublin · 1916

    The Irish Volunteers held a large armed review of several battalions in College Green, holding up the trams for about an hour. Protests against this open display went unheeded by the authorities.

    Read the passage

    During the past six months the body has grown enormously, as many as seven hundred recruits being enlisted on one night, and of course doing enormous harm to recruiting for the Army. On St. Patrick's Day they held a large review of several battalions, armed, and the trams were all held up for about an hour in College Green. Up to the last moment there was hope that this would be stopped, but protests were like a voice crying in the wilderness. Another time they held a full dress rehearsal of what has actually taken place when they "took" the Castle, St. Stephen's Green, and various buildings. About a month ago one of their meetings in the country was broken up and the two leaders arrested and deported to England. A huge meeting of protest was held at the Mansion House, almost opposite this hotel, and attended by the Volunteers, all armed, who marched in procession. After the meeting they marched down Grafton Street, singing "Die Wacht am Rhein" and revolutionary songs; a slight disturbance with the police took place and some shots were fired. People began to ask anxiously what next? but the Government looked on and smiled and H. tore his hair.

    On Saturday we were going to tea with friends at Bray, when just as we were starting H. got an "official" from the Castle, so I went alone and he went to the Castle. News had come that a boat had been taken off the Kerry coast, landing ammunition, and a very important arrest had been made. Easter Sunday passed off in absolute calm, and yesterday (Easter Monday) morning H. said he had a lot of letters to write and he would go and write them at his club, almost next door to the Sackville Street G.P.O. He found he wanted to answer some letters that were in his desk at the G.P.O., so he walked over to his room and was just sitting down when his 'phone went, an urgent message to go at once to the Castle.

    Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 1

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere about College Green, in 1916, the Irish Volunteers held a large armed review. The body had grown enormously over the previous six months, with as many as 700 recruits enlisted on a single night, and the author notes it was doing enormous harm to recruiting for the Army. On St. Patrick's Day, several battalions of Volunteers gathered here, armed, and the trams were all held up for about an hour. Up to the last moment there was hope that this open display would be stopped, but protests were, in the author's words, like a voice crying in the wilderness. The authorities did nothing. The Volunteers had also held a full dress rehearsal of what later actually took place, when they took the Castle, St. Stephen's Green, and various buildings. About a month before, one of their meetings in the country was broken up and two leaders were arrested and deported to England. A huge meeting of protest was held at the Mansion House, attended by armed Volunteers who marched in procession. After the meeting they marched down Grafton Street, singing Die Wacht am Rhein and revolutionary songs. A slight disturbance with the police took place and some shots were fired. People began to ask anxiously what next, but the Government looked on and smiled. Then news came that a boat had been taken off the Kerry coast, landing ammunition, and a very important arrest had been made. Easter Sunday passed in absolute calm. On Easter Monday, the author's companion H. went to his club, almost next door to the Sackville Street GPO, walked over to his room there, and was just sitting down when his phone went. It was an urgent message to go at once to the Castle.

16. GPO reduced to a shell after the fire

    General Post Office · site · Dublin · 1916

    Staff who visited the ruins reported nothing left of the GPO but the four outside walls and portico, comparing the devastation to a burned city in France.

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    The staff have just returned. They are quite unnerved by what they have seen; they report nothing left of the G.P.O. but the four outside walls and portico, so we have lost everything. They say it is like a burned city in France.

    _May 1st, 11 a.m._

    Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 3

    As the companion tells it

    You're right beside the General Post Office here in Dublin. Staff who visited the ruins on the 1st of May 1916 reported nothing left but the four outside walls and portico. They said it was like a burned city in France.

17. Rebels surrender unconditionally

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1916

    Sir M. N. telephoned to announce the rebels had surrendered unconditionally, though firing continued in parts of the town, marking the close of the rebellion.

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    Sir M. N. has just rung up to say the rebels have surrendered unconditionally. We have no details, and the firing continues in various parts of the town. But if the leaders have surrendered it can only be a question of a few hours before peace is restored, and we can go forth and look on the wreck and desolation of this great city.

    So ends, we hope, this appalling chapter in the history of Ireland--days of horror and slaughter comparable only to the Indian Mutiny. This seems a suitable place, dear G., to end this letter, and I hope to start a happier one to-morrow.

    Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 2

    As the companion tells it

    Dublin in 1916 was where the Easter Rising came to its close. Sir M. N. telephoned to say the rebels had surrendered unconditionally, though firing still continued in various parts of the town. If the leaders had surrendered, it could only be a question of a few hours before peace was restored, and people could go forth and look on the wreck and desolation of this great city. The writer called it an appalling chapter in the history of Ireland, days of horror and slaughter comparable only to the Indian Mutiny, and hoped to start a happier letter tomorrow.