Shane Kenna - Thomas MacDonagh: 16Lives

To write a biography about one of the signatories to the Easter Proclamation is truly an honour, and there are a number of people I would like to thank for their help and advice. Firstly, I would like to thank Lorcan Collins and Run ODonnell for all the support they have given me in writing this book. Their knowledge and sense of history and heritage has been of great encouragement. I would like to thank Lorcan in particular for his friendship and support throughout the years. I am exceeding grateful to The OBrien Press for giving me the opportunity to write this biography and for their courtesy and professionalism; particular thanks must be extended to Nicola Reddy, Helen Carr and Jonathan Rossney.

I would like to thank Pat Cooke of University College, Dublin for his exceptional knowledge of Thomas MacDonagh and the period from 1913 to 1921; Fr Sean Farragher of Blackrock College for his information about MacDonaghs early years; Caroline Mullan, archivist at Blackrock College; John Kirwan, the archivist of St Kierans College, Kilkenny; Dr Brian Kirby of the Capuchin Archives; Tommy Doyle, senior archivist at RT; the staff of the National Library Manuscripts Department and the National Archives, London; and Brian Crowley of the Pearse Museum for sharing his wealth of knowledge regarding Scoil anna. In the course of my research I had the honour of meeting Loretta Clarke, an inspirational person who greatly aided my work by facilitating a visit to the Jackie Clarke Museum. Particular thanks are also extended to Keith Murphy and the staff at the National Photographic Archive and those who work at the Military Archive in Dublin.

I would like to thank all my friends and family for their unwavering support, especially my mother, Olive, and Edel Quinn. I would like to also thank John Kenna, Gerard Shannon, Paul OBrien, Aiden Lambert, Lucille Redmond, Muriel McAuley, Barry Kennerk, May Casey, Jim Casey, Anne-Marie McInerney, James Langton and Eamon Murphy (a fountain of knowledge regarding the Easter Rising and the Irish Volunteers!) for their kind support, words of advice and exemplary service.

This book has been written using all available sources related to the life of Thomas MacDonagh, and in the course of my research I have met countless people, so I can only apologise to those whom I have inadvertently forgotten to mention. Each and every one of you has been a great help, and your assistance is greatly appreciated. I hope this book will serve as a fitting testimony to all of the help you have provided.