Composing the Island
Composing the Island – A century of music in Ireland 1916-2016 An exciting new centenary project, Composing the Island: A century of music in...
Explore 1916
Explore our interactive map and watch and listen to personal accounts from men and women who lived through Easter 1916.
Arbour Hill Commemorative Event
On Sunday 24th April 2016 a Requiem Mass followed by a procession to the adjoining graveside of 14 leaders of the Easter Rising was...
RTÉ Radio 1 – Documentary on One
Documentary On One presents a series of detailed investigations on the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland. Listen online now.
EXPLORE 1916
“An Officer Saluting A Rebel”
Eamon Dore talks about seeing Edward Daly leading his men up O'Connell Street to surrender to the British on 29 April 1916.
“There Was A Great Crashing Of Glass”
Stella Archer was working in the Instrument Room in the GPO and describes the moment when the Volunteers occupied the building.
“Naturally Being A Kid I Started To Cry”
Vinny Byrne describes his disappointment at being told to go home on Easter Monday as he was too young.
“An Officer Saluting A Rebel”
Eamon Dore talks about seeing Edward Daly leading his men up O'Connell Street to surrender to the British on 29 April 1916.
“There Was A Great Crashing Of Glass”
Stella Archer was working in the Instrument Room in the GPO and describes the moment when the Volunteers occupied the building.
“Naturally Being A Kid I Started To Cry”
Vinny Byrne describes his disappointment at being told to go home on Easter Monday as he was too young.
“If I Was Ordered To Do It, I Would Have To Do It”
As well as taking part in the fighting Bertie Offiler had to guard some of the condemned leaders in Kilmainham Gaol including Countess Markievicz.
“A Shot Rang Out From This Sniper”
Cormac Turner remembers a near miss he had with a British sniper while returning to his outpost in Hopkins and Hopkins.
“Regular Hell Opened Up”
Séamus Kavanagh recalls how the British forces finally stormed Mount Street Bridge on 26 April 1916.
“I Heard A Shot”
Seán MacEntee recalls the events in Castlebellingham, County Louth on Easter Monday 1916.
“They Broke All The Ground Floor Windows”
Owen Sheehy-Skeffington remembers a raid by the military on his home in Grovesnor Place after his father was murdered.
“It Was A Proper Ambush”
Cyril Willingham, Sherwood Foresters describes the heavy fighting that occurred in the South Dublin Union on Thursday 27 April.
“Hide Your Guns, There’ll Be Another Day”
Ailbhe Ó Monacháin describes the decision for the Galway Volunteers to disband before they could be arrested by the British army in 1916.
“Of Course He Didn’t Know Willie Would Be Dying”
Margaret Pearse talks about how she and her mother did not get to see her brother Patrick before his execution in Kilmainham Gaol.
“Mother Operated On Successfully Today”
Eugene Ring recalls how he and his brother Timothy transmitted word to America from the Cable Station in Valentia Island that the Rising had...
“There Was A Policeman There Firing”
An unnamed Volunteer describes a gun battle between the Volunteers and an RIC constable in Enniscorthy town during Easter Week.
“He Put A Rifle To My Back And Gave Me Ten Seconds”
Pádraig Ó Fathaigh describes his arrest by the RIC while he was on his way to Kinvara during Easter Week 1916.
“We Walked Down To The Post Office On Tuesday”
Phyllis Ryan talks about her role as a dispatch carrier to and from the GPO during the Easter Rising.
“These Ladies Attacked Me”
Patrick Young describes being attacked by local women while trying to deliver messages to the families of Volunteers after the Easter Rising.
“The RIC Had Gone By The Time We Came Back”
Volunteer Patrick Ronan talks about the occupation of the RIC barracks in Ferns, County Wexford during Easter Week.
“One Of Them Resisted And Was Wounded”
Volunteer Mattie Neilan talks about attacking the RIC barracks in Clarinbridge during Easter Week 1916.
“We Couldn’t Miss Them”
Volunteer Joe Clarke describes the fighting from his position in the Parochial Hall on Northumberland Road during the Easter Rising.
“A Fellah Said To Me Get Down”
Walter Starkie describes seeing the Georgius Rex being fired on by the Volunteers who were in No. 25 Northumberland Road on Easter Monday.
“The Lancers Are Coming”
Volunteer Desmond Ryan describes how he and his comrades entered the GPO on Easter Monday.
“Make Sure Every Shot Counts”
Paddy Buttner describes the occupation of Davy's Pub, Portobello on Easter Monday 1916.
“We Heard The Guns All Rolling, Nobody Took Any Notice”
Ethel Douglas and her friends had a picnic on Easter Monday. She recalls how the atmosphere in the city changed on her return to...
“He Challenged Peadar Macken”
John A Flynn describes the accidental shooting of Volunteer Peadar Macken by a sentry at Clarence Street bridge on 27 April 1916.
“There Was A British Soldier Shot Very Badly”
Sean Nunan describes how his Captain, George Plunkett saved the life of a British soldier during the Rising.
“Pearse Whispered To Us To Hide Our Arms”
Seamus Doyle recalls how he and Sean Etchingham visited Patrick Pearse in Arbour Hill Prison to get confirmation of his order to surrender on...
“I Had Been Court Martialed And Sentenced To Death”
John McGallogly describes his court martial which took place in Richmond Barracks on 3 May 1916.
“We Were Hoping For The Best But We Didn’t Expect It”
Rónán Ceannt recalls hearing about the execution of his father Éamonn Ceannt on 8 May 1916.
“Seamus Swore That We’d Have Revenge For That”
Jack Breen recalls Seamus Doyle bringing word of the surrender to the the Volunteers in Enniscorthy on Sunday 30 April 1916.
“We Have Struck The First Successful Blow to Freedom”
Kathleen Clarke recalls the last time she saw her husband Tom Clarke on the eve of his execution.
“There’s Bloody Murder Outside On The Green”
Noel Purcell was working in the Gaiety Theatre on Easter Monday and describes seeing a policeman being shot at Stephen's Green park.
“Bullets, Bullets, Bullets”
Frank Burke describes the surrender of the Headquarters garrison on Saturday 29 April.
“What was Wanted Was The Perfection Of Soldierly Bearing”
Richard Mulcahy describes going to see Patrick Pearse in Arbour Hill Prison to verify the surrender order.
“Luckily For Us Someone Told Headquarters”
Joseph Sweeney talks about what it was like to be in Moore Street after the evacuation of the GPO.
“Then I Heard My Father Say To My Mother Lizzie I’m Hit Too”
Margaret Morrissey recalls how her father and brother were shot during the Easter Rising.
“I Was The Last Person To Speak Kindly To Sheehy-Skeffington”
Monk Gibbon, recalls the events surrounding the execution of Francis Sheehy-Skeffington in Portobello Barracks on 26 April 1916.
“As He Got Through He Was Wounded In The Shoulder”
George Taylor was among a party of British troops at Jacob's Biscuit Factory. He describes how before the surrender his Lance Corporal was injured.
“If You See Anybody In Uniform, Shoot Him”
Dispatch Rider Peter Reynolds talks about being nearly arrested on Easter Monday morning and how his motorbike was damaged by gunfire.
“Did Yis Hear The News Lads?”
Joseph Guilfoyle recalls some amusing incidents that happened during the Rising.
“I Only Brought The Tea And The Ginger Snaps”
An unnamed civilian recalls taking part in the looting that took place during the Rising.
“Oh Mr Mallin I Got Me Man”
Michael Charlton recalls Countess Markievicz shooting a British officer near the College of Surgeons.
“Then At Last I Knew How My Boys’ Odyssey Had Ended”
Colm Ó Lochlainn talks about how he heard of the tragedy at Ballykissane Pier, County Kerry where three of his comrades died.
“We Went By Train In Three Different Parties”
Archie Heron talks about his involvement with the Belfast Volunteers on Easter Saturday 1916.
“I Didn’t Know What A Rebellion Was”
Irish writer Mervyn Wall recalls his memories of the Easter Rising as an eight year old boy.
“It Would Have Blown My Head Off”
During a search of houses on Serpentine Avenue in Ballsbridge Dublin British soldier Ernest Gill had a close call.
“Fantastic Rumours Were Mixed With The Facts”
Tadhg Gahan talks about fortifying Jacob's Biscuit Factory and what it was like to be there during the Rising.
“When My Ammunition Was All Gone I Went Home For My Breakfast”
George Gilmore recalls opening fire on a patrol of the Munster Fusiliers as they passed through his neighbourhood.
“This Is The Forerunners Of What Is Going To Happen”
Mr Higgs, Royal Irish Rifles recalls how a group of cyclists raised his suspicion shortly before the Rising began.
“May We’re Going To Heaven Together”
Maura O'Neill recalls what it was like to be in the General Post Office when the building was being shelled by the gunboat Helga.
“They Allowed Her Sleep In Her Own House”
Sighle Humphreys recalls her mother, Nell Humphreys arrest after the Easter Rising.
“In The Centre Was Machine Gun Liz”
Among a large group of prisoners being escorted along the North Circular Road was a woman known as Machine Gun Liz.
“Don’t Let This Get Into The Hands Of The Police”
Ina Connolly Heron recalls how Patrick Pearse showed Ina and her comrades the Proclamation on the morning of Easter Monday.
“I Feel That Our Work Is Accomplished”
Milo McGarry recalls Patrick Pearse's farewelll to his students at St. Enda's on 21 March 1916.
“It Was Sowed In A Fur”
Eily O'Hanrahan O'Reilly recalls bringing a dispatch to Enniscorthy on Holy Thursday telling of the plans for Easter Sunday.
“Being So Young They Didn’t Mind Me Very Much”
Dick Gogan recalls the surrender of the Headquarters garrison and their treatment in Richmond Barracks.
“We Could Hear Shots”
Martin Bell recalls how he heard the opening shots of Easter Rising while returning home from a football match at Dalymount Park.
“She Wanted A Clanwilliam House Brick As A Memento”
Brendan O'Byrne describes collecting a specific type of souvenir after the Easter Rising.
“Trams Says She. Trams Mam, Ah Says She There Is A Rebellion”
Anne Jane Smith recalls her difficulty in trying to get to her home near Jacob's Biscuit Factory on Easter Monday.
“We’re Going To Carry On This Fight”
Sean O'Duffy talks about the fighting in the North King Street area in 1916 and how he and his comrades were reluctant to surrender.
“The Horse Lay There For A Week After”
Florence Rush-McGowan describes the shooting of the Lancers on O'Connell Street by the Volunteers in the GPO on Easter Monday.
“There Was All Sorts Of People Came To That House That Night”
Liam O Briain recalls the events of Holy Saturday night when he met Eoin MacNeill who had decided to issue the countermanding order.
“If You Were Caught Out Then You Had It”
Christy Kearns describes the scenes on O'Connell Street shortly after the Rising began.
“Besides Loading They Fired ‘Em Off”
Mr Simpkin recalls the rawness of many of the soldiers who having landed at Kingstown were told to form ranks and load their weapons.
“Oh By Gum Dublin’s Got It”
Arthur Geary, a British soldier in 1916 recalls being mobilised and the boat journey from Holyhead to Dublin during Easter Week.
“It Would Have Been Far Better To Go Down In A Good Fight”
Sean McGarry describes the bombardment and evacuation of the General Post Office and the eventual surrender of the garrison on Saturday.
“Wasn’t It A Full Life Lillie And Isn’t This A Good End”
Nora Connolly O'Brien remembers the last time she saw her father James, a prisoner in Dublin Castle the night before his execution.
“The Citizen Army Was Wiped Out”
Paddy Buttner describes being sent to the Fish Market to identify the remains of his comrades.
“He Received Us With Open Arms”
Eilís Ní Riain recalls her efforts in procuring rations for the garrison in Reis's Chambers on Easter Monday.
“It Was A Colossal Shock, A Most Unbelievable Shock”
Liam O'Briain and Harry Nicholls discuss the surrender of the College of Surgeons garrison on Sunday 30 April.
“We Decided We’d Carry On”
Simon Donnelly remembers the confusion caused by Eoin MacNeill's countermanding order on the morning of Easter Sunday.
“I Woke Up And Heard The Machine Gun Fire”
Paddy Buttner describes the evacuation from Stephen's Green Park to the College of Surgeons.
“They Fired Bottles And Jam Pots And Everything At Us”
Seamus Gough describes coming under attack from both the military and civilians while evacuating Stephen's Green Park.
“The First Shot Should Be Fired At Dublin Castle”
Helena Molony recalls the takeover of City Hall and the death of Captain Sean Connolly.
“Dr Lynn Kicked Up Murder”
Emily Hanratty neé Norgrove recalls the treatment the women received in Ship Street Barracks after the surrender of the City Hall garrison.
“We Never Thought This Would Be The End”
Min Ryan recalls the last time she saw Seán MacDiarmada in Kilmainham Gaol on the eve of his execution.
“On Tuesday Night We Started Transmitting”
Fergus O'Kelly describes how messages were transmitted from the Wireless School.
“Get To Your Positions As Quick As Possible”
Frank Robbins recalls the events in Liberty Hall on Palm Sunday 1916.
“I Heard The Awful Sound Of Bullets Striking Bone”
Joseph O'Connor recalls the fighting that occurred near the Grand Canal as the British army tried to enter the city on Wednesday.
“We Didn’t Know Who Our Enemies Were”
British soldier Orson Lucas recalls the reception he and his comrade got when they found themselves on Foxrock golf course.
“He Was My First Prisoner”
Frank Robbins describes the take over of Harcourt Street Railway station on Easter Monday.
“I Was The First That Was Allowed In”
Rosie Hackett recalls the moment she first saw the Proclamation of the Irish Republic.
“We Had To Adopt A More Aggressive Attitude”
Captain Simon Donnelly recalls the taking over and fortification of Boland's Bakery on Easter Monday.
“Fire Opened From The Bedroom Windows And The Rooftops”
Albert Palmer, a British soldier recalls the intense fighting on Northumberland Road on Wednesday, 26 April.
“I Never Got To See Him After That Wednesday”
Roddy Connolly recalls the last time he saw his father James Connolly.
“We Hadn’t Any Machine Guns Or Anything Like That”
Padraic O'Broin remembers the fighting in Marrowbone Lane Distillery.
“I Didn’t Know Any Of Them Had Been Killed At The Time”
Richard Humphreys talks about what it was like to be in the GPO and hearing of the death of his uncle, The O'Rahilly.
“It Was Better For Him To Die”
Fiona Plunkett recalls searching for her parents in the aftermath of the Rising and hearing that her brother Joseph might not be executed.
“Most People Thought It Was Only Manoeuvres”
Geraldine Dillon witnessed the takeover of the GPO from her room in the Imperial Hotel.
“He’d Rather Fight On Than Surrender”
Volunteer Tom Kearney recalls the surrender of the Headquarters Battalion and the order to lay down their weapons opposite the Gresham Hotel.
“I Would Like You To Behave As Soldiers To The End”
James Coughlan remembers the surrender of the South Dublin Union garrison.
“I Happened To Be Sentenced To Be Shot”
Maurice Brennan describes how the sentences of those court martialled were announced in Kilmainham Gaol.
“The Place Was Full Of Rumours”
Michael Hayes ventured out of Jacob's Biscuit Factory on Wednesday in search of firearms.
“They Were The Best Cigars I’ve Ever Had Before Or Since”
Volunteer John O'Connor describes some of their provisions while in Jameson's Distillery, Smithfield.
“They’re Taking Out So Many Every Day And Shooting Them”
Volunteer Séamus Ó Tallúin on the security in Arbour Hill Prison.
“We’ll Be All Shot, But You’ll Go Free”
Dr James Ryan recalls his last conversation with James Connolly in Moore Street.
“Sick Sore And Dejected Hadn’t Been Asleep For Four Days”
John O'Connor talks about how Commandant Edward Daly prepared his men for the surrender at the Four Courts.
“We Heard The Firing All Over The Place”
Mattie Connolly remembers his incarceration in Ship Street Barracks after the surrender of the garrison in City Hall.
“We Got The Order Halt Left Turn Charge”
John 'Blimey' O'Connor describes taking over the GPO on Easter Monday and the attack of the Lancers on Sackville (O'Connell) Street.
“Take Down Them Proclamations”
Michael Carey, a constable of the DMP recalls reporting for duty at Mountjoy Police Station on hearing that the Rising had started.
“We Had A Tough Week In The South Dublin Union”
John Joyce describes how sixty men occupied and defended the South Dublin Union.
“It Was A Request But Now It’s An Order”
Julia Grenan recalls the moment when Patrick Pearse ordered the women serving in the GPO to leave the burning building on Friday.
“There Was A Child Shot In A Woman’s Arms”
Dick Cormac lived on Church Street and describes how as a civilian he coped with the fighting during the Easter Rising.
“I’m Going Back Alone”
Leslie Bean de Barra recalls her fear at being asked by Tom Clarke to fetch a priest from Malborough Street.
“Word Arrived At The Racecourse There Was Trouble In Dublin”
A Dublin jarvey tells how he was at Fairyhouse Racecourse when news that armed men had taken over the GPO in Dublin came through.
“Old And Young Men Stood At The Street Corners And Saluted Us”
Frank Thornton describes his treatment after his arrest and his subsequent court martial in Richmond Barracks.
“We Could See The British Troops Approaching”
Tom Walsh, one of seven men who occupied Clanwilliam House describes the fierce battle that took place at Mount Street Bridge.
“He Held It For Three Days”
P. J. Stephenson describes how Seán Heuston and his small garrison halted the British advance into the city.
“They Simply Disappeared From The Streets”
Margaret Skinnider describes gathering information on troop movements in the city on Easter Monday.
“There Was Severe Fighting At The Back Gate”
Joseph Doolan describes the occupation of the South Dublin Union under the command of Éamonn Ceannt.
“This Building Was Quickly Put Into A State Of Defence”
Harry Nicholls recalls the take over of the College of Surgeons and being ordered by Michael Mallin to occupy the Turkish Baths nearby.
“The British Had Now Cut Our Line in Two”
Piaras Béaslaí recalls the last days fighting in the Four Courts area.
“Down Moore Street We Charged”
Tom Devine was in Moore Street on Friday 28 April and witnessed the deaths of Paddy Shortis and The O'Rahilly.
“I’m Giving You Five Minutes”
Peter Carpenter recalls how a German was sent with his group to take over the Metropole Hotel.
“Behind Me Came A Sound Of A Volley And I Fell”
Margaret Skinnider recalls being shot by British soldiers in Harcourt Street.
“Stop The Truce Is On”
Liam O'Dalaigh describes some confusion at Jacob's Biscuit Factory after the surrender.
“We Were Stuck For The Letter E”
Printer Christopher J Brady describes how the Proclamation of the Irish Republic was printed on Easter Sunday 1916.
“I Thought The Rebellion Was Very Wrong”
Louise Gavan Duffy recalls how she chastised Patrick Pearse when she presented herself for duty at the GPO on Easter Monday.
“Would We Be Damned If We Eat Meat On A Friday?”
Eamon Dore remembers the meal he had in the GPO on Thursday 27 April while the building was coming under attack.
