Posted by Jim on April 11, 2015
Posted by That’s Just How It Was
Seán Heuston is yet another young man who is scarcely known as one of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. He does not share the historical iconic status that is accorded to James Connolly or Patrick Pearse, for example. He was and still remains one of many leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising who is “a shadowy figure” about whom little is known.
Heuston was born in Dublin along with his three siblings. It has been said that his mother lived with her two sisters in Jervis Street, a slum area of Dublin, during this time. She continued to live there with her four children with all three women sharing the care of these four Heuston children.
Seán Heuston was enrolled at the very highly regarded Christian Brothers School. He was an excellent student and became a fluent speaker in the Irish language — truly a master of the oral and written language. He excelled at other subjects as well and achieved excellent results in various state examinations. From there, he went to work for the Great Southern and Western Railways working as a clerk where he was highly respected.
His father has been recorded in the censuses of 1901 and 1911 as not being a member of this household. He did not, however, disappear from the Heustons’ lives. Records exist to show that Seán Heuston’s himself wrote to his father some days before he was executed. His mother, Marie, wrote to her husband after the execution to inform him of the death of their eldest son. As members of the “urban poor of Victorian Dublin,” it is impossible to trace or penetrate the inner workings of the Heuston social traditions. They left few, if any, traces behind them. This is, of course, typical of the poor in this era. Most would just move on leaving behind no traces.
Culturally, however, there is evidence that education and religion played an important part in the Heuston family. Seán’s eldest sister, Mary, became a school teacher, and then went on to join a religious order. Micheál, his younger brother, became a Dominican Priest.
Being a young man who had been noted by his employer’s as having “an upwardly socially mobile trajectory,” he was promoted and transferred to Limerick. This is where he then joined and became an active member of Na Fianna Éireann, which had been founded by Bulner Hobson and Countess Markievicz in 1909 as a youth organization. Openly militaristic but not considered to be political, it was hierarchical in nature. Heuston rose rapidly through the ranks (unknown to his employers, however, as they were staunchly pro-establishment). It was in Limerick that he, too, became a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). Along with his excellent memory and knowledge of Irish History, his administration skills were soon noticed and put to good use by both Na Fianna Éireann and the Irish Republican Brotherhood. He used his own native language whenever possible. His charm and drive were such that he began recruiting young men into both Na Fianna Éireann and the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Heuston became synonymous with the rapid and successful establishment of Na Fianna in Limerick.
By 1913, Heuston had transferred back to Dublin where he was based at Kingsbridge Station. His arrival back in the city of his birth coincided with the formation of the Irish Volunteers. His skills already well known in the hierarchical establishment of the IRB, he received a commission within the new organisation and was given the task of doing what he did best — recruiting and military training of the rank-and-file members.
Records note that he must have led a double life. By day he was, as ever, the diligent and trusted employee of the Great Southern and Western Railways; by night and at weekends, he was spending his time training the rank-and-file on quasi- military marches in the surrounding Dublin Hills. His rise through the ranks of the Na Fianna Éireann and the Volunteers was considered to be phenomenal, and he was soon promoted to Director of Training and a member of the Central Council in 1915.
By 1916, Heuston was a full and accepted member of the inner circle of the IRB, and a successful and established leader in the Volunteers. He held down several roles while continuing to a trusted member of the Great Southern and Western Railways. Prior to the Easter Rising, he was promoted to be the leader of “D Company” of the First Battalion of the Volunteers in Dublin. It is not clear if he was on familiar terms with the other leaders of the Easter Rising. However, what is clear is that he was obviously a trusted Lieutenant of both Pearse and Connolly. The documents that he was carrying had both Patrick Pearse’s and James Connolly’s names and signatures at the time of his arrest. This would most probably have contributed to his ultimate fate.
Heuston was the officer commanding the Volunteers in the Mendacity Institution (now renamed Heuston’s Fort) on the south side of Dublin. He was acting under orders from his commanding officer, James Connolly. He was told to hold this position with the Volunteers for three to four hours in order to delay the advance of the British Troops. His job was to disrupt and inhibit any British troop movements toward the city centre General Post Office (GPO) for as long as possible. This is where the main body of the fighting was taking place, and by inhibiting the British Forces it would give the advantage to the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
Heuston did, in fact, inspire his heavily besieged cohort of Volunteers to continue to hold out for almost three days. This in spite of the fact that he was hopelessly undermanned. He had totally inadequate supplies of arms, food and, not least, military experience in live action. Sending a dispatch to his commanding officer, James Connelly, Heuston wrote that it was impossible to hold out any longer. Connolly was amazed at their resilience and insisted on sending back a congratulatory note to Heuston, not knowing at that time that Patrick Pearse had ordered a surrender.
Caught by the British troops who spat upon and violated them in the most vicious of ways (because there had only been 26 Volunteers holding off a battalion of 300 British troops), the Volunteers were made to pay dearly for their defiance. Heuston was taken prisoner and transferred to Richmond Barracks. He was tried by court martial on the 7th of May, 1916, and sentenced to be executed the next morning.
On the morning of his execution, Father Albert, O.F.M Cap. was sent for in order that he might pray with Heuston. This is how he spent his final hours. Father Albert wrote an account of those hours up to and including the execution (too long and emotional to be printed here). The following is just a brief snapshot:
“Never did I realise that men could fight so bravely, and die so beautifully, and so fearlessly as did the Heroes of Easter Week. On the morning of Sean Heuston’s death I would have given the world to have been in his place, he died in such a noble and sacred cause, and went forth to meet his Divine Saviour with such grand Christian sentiments of trust, confidence and love!”
Seán Heuston was 25 years of age when he died. Father Albert was literally a few feet away from his body, having walked all the way with him to the spot where he was to be executed. He was on-hand to administer the last rights of the Catholic Church by anointing him.
Heuston Station in Dublin is named in his honour.
Posted by Jim on
When the government first unveiled its commemoration programme for 1916 it was widely viewed as short term, shambolic and superficial.
Since then a former leader of Fine Gael has put forward the view that the Rising was not needed and was a civil war.
Following widespread criticism, and in the run up to the elections the government has now brought forward a more fitting commemoration. This is to be welcomed
However there remains vacuity at the centre of the plans.
This government just doesn’t get 1916. It is an inconvenient issue and you get the impression that they just want the commemorations to be out of the way and to return to business as usual.
Their approach has been to strip away any politics and context to the rising. To reduce it to a tragedy in which death and injury was inflicted equally on all sides, and so all sides must be equally remembered.
This is a shallow and wholly self-serving approach to our history. Devoid of context or politics the Rising is portrayed as a moment in history that should be kept in a little glass case and studied or in the view of some in the Redmondite wing of Fine Gael an unnecessary moment of madness.
Without a doubt war is brutal. It visits death and injury on all sides.
The grief of a mother and father, brother and sister, or son and daughter is not diminished by circumstance of that loss. The grief experienced by the family of an RIC member was no different from that of a member of the IRA who fought in the GPO or a civilian killed on the streets. All have the right to be respected and remembered.
However it is wrong for the state commemoration to be reduced to solely to an act of remembrance for a collection of individuals.
While each is a story of individual courage and loss, those involved in the Rising were more than a collection of individuals. They were an army and a movement with a shared republican politics, shaped by their experience of the British Empire and world war.
Those who took part in the Rising, gave their lives and liberty, to deliver the republic enshrined in the proclamation. A republic built on the principles of equality and sovereignty, of human rights and civil liberties, and of unity and nationhood. Principles that remain a challenge to successive governments in this state.
It is in these principles that we find the government’s problem with the commemoration. For this government it is easier to deal with the notion of individual loss and sacrifice, than promote the ideas of the proclamation.
So the government does not address the inequality, division and lack of sovereignty, that drove a generation of republicans onto the streets of Dublin.
They even proposed to rewrite the proclamation and hope that we forget that the original one has been undermined by the actions of successive governments. Heaven forbid that we even mention the north or the continued failure that is partition.
The memory and ownership of 1916 does not exclusively belong to Sinn Féin, any other party or the government. The commemoration of the rising cannot be limited to a lecture, an exhibition or a parade.
It belongs to the Irish nation, all the people that share this island and the Irish nation spread across the globe.
While the commemoration must be an opportunity for remembrance, it is also an opportunity for national renewal, for building a new republic.
In the last election the government promised a democratic revolution and delivered hardship, inequality, continued loss of sovereignty, a hands off attitude to the North and the Good Friday Agreement. There is a demand across our nation for change, a demand for the republic promised in 1916.
Our history cannot be encased in a museum, or mausoleum it is part of who we are, where we are from, and were we want to go.
That is why Sinn Féin developed a programme of events to mark 1916. We are seeking to encourage communities to engage with their heritage and to rise to the challenge of delivering a republic for citizens.
I
t would appear that the government is afraid to speak of Easter week, afraid of the challenge that it opens and afraid of the views of citizens.
The most fitting tribute to the loss of past generations including republicans, British and civilians is to deliver the republic promised on the steps of the GPO.
A 32 county republic in which citizens have equality and rights and the sovereignty of the nation is protected.
This generation has the opportunity and ability to deliver such a republic without making the sacrifice of previous generations. There is now a peaceful and democratic way to achieve this. But it will require leadership, determination and putting the needs of the nation above individual political position.
Maybe the real reason that that the government does not
want to talk about the unfinished business of 1916 is that it will remind them of their failure and remind citizens that they retain the power to make good the proclamation.
Posted by Jim on
Republican political prisoners occupied a canteen in Maghaberry jail on
Easter Sunday in protest at being refused permission to wear lilies to
remember their dead.
Around 13 prisoners held on the controversial jail’s Roe 3 landing took
part in the protest to highlight the prison ban. The landing is home to
prisoners represented by Cogus, which is linked to the Republican
Network for Unity, as well as Cabhair-represented prisoners, which
aligned with Republican Sinn Fein.
The prison has been protests and conflict since prison authorities
reneged on a 2010 deal to end strip searches and limit controlled
movement. Prison authorities have insisted that those who wear the lily
at Easter are not allowed to leave their cells.
On Sunday prisoners left their cells and entered the jail’s canteen
area, where they attached the lily to their clothing. The canteen was
also decorated with Easter lilies and pictures of the 1916 rising
leaders.
In a statement Cogus prisoners said the take-over was launched “in
resistance against the jail administration’s attempts to prevent
republican prisoners from commemorating and remembering” their dead.
Prisoners then watched documentaries on Irish history and prisoner
issues during the protest before moving into the exercise yard to take
part in sporting activities. During the takeover, Easter statements,
along with the proclamation, were read out and the national anthem
sung,-
After returning to their cells that night those who took part in the
protest were told by a senior prison officer that they were being
“charged with wearing an Easter lily”.
The prisoners remain defiant.
“Republican POWs at all times will maintain their discipline and
integrity in the face of British attempts to criminalise and devalue the
republican struggle and those imprisoned by the British state,” they
said in a statement.
“Any attempts at preventing us from honouring our fallen revolutionaries
will be resisted in full using measures of our own choosing.
Going forward Republican PooWs will continue our resistance and pursuit
of our political objectives, continuing to conduct ourselves in the
manner with which Republican POWs have done throughout the history of
prison struggle.”
Posted by Jim on
There was an extraordinary number and diversity of Easter commemorations
this year as many organisations, republican and otherwise, held events
with a view to the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising next year.
There were Easter commemorations in Britain, US and Australia, but the
most colourful events took place at home, particularly in Dublin, where
thousands took part in pageantry. Scores of actors dressed in period
costume, and a part of Dublin city centre was briefly transformed into
an Edwardian streetscape.
Sinn Fein in Dublin worked with historical society volunteers to
recreate famous 1916 events such as the ‘O’Rahilly Charge’ on Moore
Street, and the formal surrender by General Padraig Pearse.
Sinn Fein Deputy President Mary Lou McDonald TD delivered the keynote
address at the party’s Easter Sunday rally at the GPO, and also took
part in a ‘military inspection’ of dozens of ‘troops’ dressed in
traditional war of independence garb.
The official 26-County State commemoration took place in Dublin on
Easter Sunday. President Michael D Higgins led the events which
culminated in four Air Corps planes flying over O’Connell Street.
Higgins laid a wreath outside the GPO in remembrance of those who died
during Easter week 1916 and the Proclamation was read by a member of the
26-County Army.
A ‘Road to the Rising’ commemorative event was held by the state in
Dublin on Monday, and was popular with both tourists and locals alike.
Part of O’Connell Street was converted to an Edwardian thoroughfare,
evoking the atmosphere of the capital before 1916.
Relatives of those who fought in the Easter Rising held their own
special remembrance ceremony in Dublin city centre. The 1916 Relatives’
Association said the service is being held to pay tribute to all those
who took part in the events leading up to the Rising, and not just those
who signed the Proclamation. Hundreds of people attended the
wreath-laying ceremony, which took place at the Garden of Remembrance on
Parnell Square.
BELFAST
As at every Easter, the streets of Belfast were brought to life with
hundreds in attendance for the annual parades. Bands and marchers made
their way through Ardoyne in North Belfast and the Falls in the west of
the city, with crowds as usual gathering at Milltown Cemetery
Sinn Fein’s North Belfast representative Gerry Kelly addressed the crowd
gathered for his party’s Belfast Easter Commemoration.
“Republicans are moving Irish society closer to the principles contained
in the 1916 Proclamation every day,” he said. “Easter week 1916 inspired
generations of Irish Republicans but also peoples throughout the world
who rose up against the tyranny of colonial rule, imperialism and
oppression.
“It is a fire still burning bright in the heart of every Irish
republican today. That fight is carried on by Sinn Fein today in our
fight for equality for all.”
Kelly also spoke at a separate commemoration in north Belfast, where he
paid tribute to republicans who died during the conflict. “We are in the
countdown to a united Ireland,” he told the crowd.
Sinn Fein’s candidate in next month’s Westminster General Election,
Gearoid O hEara, spoke at the party’s 1916 Easter Rising commemoration
in Derry city cemetery.
Among those present were Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, party
Assembly members and councillors.
“Sinn Fein ministers are fighting to protect frontline services in
Stormont from the worst of the Tory cuts and we pledge to continue
this,” Mr O hEara said.
CIRA VOLLEY OF SHOTS
There was a more militaristic tone in Lurgan, where a volunteer from the
Armagh brigade of the Continuity IRA fired a volley of shots over the
Republican plot at St Colmans Graveyard at the Easter commemoration on
Saturday.
A military colour party also took part in the short parade before taking
up position at the cemetery’s republican plot. During the event a masked
man appeared and fired three shots over the grave using a handgun.
A message was read out in the name of the leadership of the republican
movement.
“Time after time we have seen that treating with the English government
and compromise on the basis principles of Irish national independence
has afforded the enemy a platform to develop new and more robust
political, economic and military barriers to freedom,” the statement
said.
“There can be no let up to in resistance to British rule. We can only
truly honour 1916 by building a new Ireland based on the principles of
the 1916 proclamation.”
Republican Sinn Fein representative Roisin Hayden, who spoke at the
event, urged republicans to prepare for the centenary of the 1916
Rising.
“As we leave here today let us remember those who have fought and died
for the all-Ireland republic and to who we owe a debt of gratitude,” she
said.
“Let us prepare to celebrate the centenary of the 1916 Rising next year
and I call on everyone to help out in any way they can so that the Free
State, the Provisionals and many others claiming to be republicans don’t
hijack our celebrations.”
Republican Sinn Fein also held other commemorations across the north at
the weekend.
One of the party’s main events took place in Derry’s city cemetery on
Sunday after wreaths had earlier been laid at the graves of republicans
in Loup and Dungiven by veteran Mickey McGonigle.
PRISONERS REMEMBERED
Activists of the Irish Republican Prisoners’ Welfare Association
organised various activities and events throughout Ireland.
On Friday, Belfast IRPWA held a successful picket and distributed
information in the Dunville Park area of the Falls Road in order to
highlight the ongoing abuse of Republican Prisoners in Maghaberry. In
addition, a number of Scottish activists undertook a sponsored cycle
from Glasgow to Belfast.
On Saturday, Dublin IRPWA activists organised a tour of Dublin’s South
Inner City’s involvement in the 1916 Easter Rising. On Easter Sunday,
Lurgan IRPWA along with local Republicans activists were to the fore in
the organisation of the local Easter Commemoration. A wreath was laid on
behalf of the IRPWA and IRPWA spokesperson and activist Mandy Duffy
chaired proceedings while Belfast IRPWA activist Dee Fennell gave the
main oration.
DERRY
Several hundred people, including leading members of the 32 County
Sovereignty Movement, the IRSP, the IRPWA and Republican Sinn Fein,
attended the march and commemoration organised by the 1916 National
Commemoration Committee on Easter Monday in Derry.
The PSNI maintained a low profile but informed marchers by loud speaker
and by notices on their Land Rovers that they were taking part in an
illegal parade.
The march was led by a 10-man colour party, dressed in military-style
uniform and accompanied by a flute band. Wreaths were laid at Derry’s
republican monument on behalf of the (new) IRA and the Derry brigade of
the INLA, among other groups.
Mr Donnelly, an independent member of Derry City and Strabane council,
told those present that republicans were united in failure.
He said: “No matter which monument you stand at in 2016, no matter which
banner or flag you gather under, the answer to the sole question
emanating from our patriot graves, as to whether the ideals of the
[Easter] proclamation are yet realised, the collective answer will be a
resounding no.”
A leading member of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, Mr Donnelly said
a “national conversation” about republicanism’s message was needed in
the approach to the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising.
“The fragmented nature of the republican base at present is testament to
the fact that we have lost this ability to communicate. We cannot
advance with a parochial mind-set,” he said.
TYRONE GRAVES
One of the largest Easter commemorations was in Carrickmore, where an
estimated 2,000 republicans were in attendance for an independent event
organised by Tyrone National Graves Association.
Descendants of Fenian leader Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa were among those
who took part in the rally, which was addressed by Tyrone socialist
republican Tommy McKearney.
Brian Cawley, chairman of Tyrone National Graves Association, paid
tribute to dead republicans during the commemoration.
“Tyrone National Graves has a long and proud history of organising this
commemoration, for many years,” he said.
“We salute the courage and bravery of those who have died for Irish
freedom across this county and elsewhere.
“We look forward to marking the 100th anniversary of the rising in
Carrickmore next year and call on all republicans to support the vital
work of refurbishing the St Paul’s monument.”
MCGLINCHEYS
Several hundred people gathered in County Derry last weekend to remember
former INLA leader Dominic McGlinchey and his wife Mary.
McGlinchey was shot dead in February 1994 in Drogheda, County Louth,
while his wife was killed in January 1987 in Dundalk.
Several bands paraded through Bellaghy to the graveside of the couple
who are buried close to former IRA hunger strikers Francis Hughes and
Thomas McElwee.
The couple’s son Declan spoke about the symbolism of the Easter Lily,
which republicans wear to remember their dead.
“I see it a symbol for all those dedicated their lives to the republican
struggle,” he said.
“People who provided the safe houses and logistical support to the
volunteers on the ground.
“These people are buried in this very graveyard and they don’t get the
recognition that my mother and father are getting here today.”
Wreaths were laid on behalf of the IRSP, INLA and Republican Sinn Fein.
After the parade independent Donegal TD Thomas Pringle spoke at a
memorial lecture on the human rights of republican prisoners.
DUBLIN EVENTS
The National 1916 Commemoration Committee also held a march in Dublin
from the Garden Of Remembrance to the GPO and then onto Arbour Hill on
Easter Monday.
A similar march was organised by the 1916 Societies in Dublin on Easter
Saturday, its inaugural Easter parade. The James Connolly 1916 Society
in Monaghan also held separate independent Republican Commemorations for
Volunteers Lawrence McNally, Jim Lynagh and Sean McKenna on Easter
Saturday.
Eirigi held a well-attended Easter commemoration parade in Dublin behind
a Glasgow marching band, marching to Moore Street and the GPO on Easter
Saturday. Cathaoirleach eirigi Brian Leeson delivered a short oration
before a rendition of Amhran na bhFiann was played.
DULEEK
There was a large turnout in Duleek on Good Friday for the annual
Independent Easter commemoration hosted by Duleek 1916-1981 Monument
Committee.
Wreaths were laid in memory of all those who sacrificed their lives for
the cause of Irish freedom including Vol Joe Coombes, Vol Noel Gallagher
and Vol Harry McCormick.
The Monument Committee Easter statement was delivered by Ex-POW Tommy
Gallagher and the main speech by Ex-POW Anthony McIntyre. Dave McSweeney
read the proclamation.
The monument committee statement particularly highlighted the
comparisons between the injustices in the 70’s and those of the current
era, and appealed to those present to join the campaign to get the
Craigavon Two released.
RNU
The Republican Network for Unity gathered in Counties Antrim, Derry,
Down, Louth, Wexford, Dublin and elsewhere to play their part in
“principled Republican commemorations” of all those who have given their
lives for Irish Freedom and the revolutionary ideal.
RNU in Dublin held their annual Elizabeth O’ Farrell/ Easter Ceremony on
Monday 6th of April. Led by a colour party, those assembled including
RNU activists from Cork and Dundalk and many independent Republicans
heard Ex-Pow and political activist Declan Carroll chair the event and
give the main oration.
Organisers say that up to 300 people attended a Republican Network for
Unity event in north Belfast on Saturday. The annual event commemorates
members of Na Fianna Eireann from the area who died during the Troubles.
South Down representative Andreas O’Cluaid said it was important to
stick to the original ideals of the proclamation.
“We also note with alarm the Orwellian attempts of the Free State and
other elements to rewrite the 1916 proclamation, to rebrand Irish
republicanism as something it has never been,” he said.
