Special thanks to the love of my life, Trish Darcy, for carrying everything on her shoulders, including taking care of our loving children, Fionn and Lily May, who I thank for being very patient and understanding while I wrote and researched this book. The following people are deserved of special gratitude: Nicola Reddy for her eagle-eyed editorial skills and constructive suggestions, which really shaped the book. Emma Byrne for her brilliant design work. Michael OBrien, Ivan OBrien, Ide N Laoghaire, the late Mary Webb and all at The OBrien Press including Claire, Kunak, Helen, Susan, Erika, Bex, Jamie, Brenda, Sarah, Ruth, Fionnuala and Carol. Joe Connell was particularly helpful and kind.
Ray Bateson was always happy to share his knowledge. Dr Conor McNamara, whose kindness shall not be forgotten. Lar Joye in Collins Barracks, many thanks. Fr Joe Mallin in Hong Kong. Aidan Murphy from Met ireann. Special thanks to Jonathan Rossney.
Gerry Kavanagh, Colette OFlaherty, Glenn Dunne, Berni Metcalfe and Keith Murphy at the National Library of Ireland. Jordan Goffin, Special Collections Librarian, Providence, Rhode Island. Hugh Beckett, Lisa Dolan, Commandant Victor Laing, Noelle Grothier, Captain Stephen MacEoin, Adrian Short and all at the Bureau of Military Archives. Dr John Gibney, Dr Shane Kenna, Joe Duffy, Rory ODonnell, Dr Conor Kostick, Dr Brian Hughes, Dr Angus Mitchell, Derek Molyneux and Darren Kelly. Patrick Collins from the National Motor Museum Trust in England. Dr Ann Mathews, Liz Gillis, Dr Mary McAuliffe and Michel Doibhiln.
Maeve OLeary. The 16 Lives authors including Helen Litton, Brian Feeney, Mary Gallagher, Roisn N Ghairbh, Meda Ryan, John OCallaghan and my comrade and co-editor Dr Ruan ODonnell. Donal Collins. Rachel Breen. Prof. Mary McCay, Prof.
Andrew Hazucha, Prof. Shawn OHare, Prof. John Wells, Prof. Scott Hendrix. Enda Grennan at the Asgard. Stew Bradfield.
For German translations Larissa Thome, Susanne Morgan and Elisabeth Thom. All at Kilmainham Gaol especially Aoife Torpey and Conor Masterson. Malacha Duddy. George McCullough and Mervyn Colville and all at Glasnevin Trust. Francis McGuigan. Ronnie Daly, Paul Callery, Rod Dennison, Jim Langton and all the Volunteers.
Rita OHare. Gordon Kennedy. Patrick Finlay. Liam Cowley. Cecelia Hartsell. Honor OBrolchain, Barry Lyons, Jim Connolly Heron, Matt Doyle, Terry Fagan, Padraig Yeates, Aengus Snodaigh, Muriel McAuley, Kieran McMullen, Pdraig g Ruairc, Dave Kilmartin, Sen OMahony, Nora Comiskey, Padraig Beirne, Colette Palsgraaf and Henry Fairbrother.
Richard Boyd Barrett. Malvina Walsh and the Laois 1916 Commemoration Committee. Cara and Con ONeill. John Murphy. Brian Crowley at the Pearse Museum. Sen Quinlan of North Kerry Museum.
For all their constant encouragement, thanks to Mam, Dad, Orla Collins, Diarmuid Collins, Mark Childerson, Eibhlis Connaughton, Gerry Walsh, Rory Dunne, Colin Duffy, the Collins Clan. Carmel Darcy, Pat, Eoin, Barry and all the Darcy Clan. All the Farrell Clan. Aoife, Oisn, Ferdia, Roisn and Nora. Paul Quinlan, Fiona Fairbrother, Denise Keoghan, Liam Wynne, Ciara & Hank Gallagher, Gary Quinn, Davorka Naletilic, Frank Allen, Tom Stokes, Carol Murphy, Peter Reid. John Donoghue, James Donoghue, Alan Martin, Kenny Whelan, John Francis, Rock-on Tommy, Joey, Eugene, Shane, Matt and all the great people at the International Bar.
Mannix Flynn. Pat Ingoldsby. The Kennedy sisters and all the Moore Street Traders. Dec Mills. Lar & Elaine. OConnell. OConnell.
All at Filte Ireland on Suffolk Street, thanks for the constant support. Ciarn Murray, Sam McGrath, Donal Fallon and the Fallon Clan. Tony Nicoletti, Stew Reddin, Bas Curraoin, Jack Gleeson and Conor Mearin. Finally my aul pal Shane MacThomis, whod have loved going through this book looking for errors; gone but not forgotten.
1798, May to September Rebellion of United Irishmen against British rule in Ireland
1801, 1 January Two Acts of Union come into force. The Parliament is removed from Dublin and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland comes into existence
1803, 23 July Robert Emmets uprising in Dublin
1803, 20 September Emmet is hanged and then beheaded on Thomas Street
1823 Daniel OConnell establishes the Catholic Association to campaign for Catholic emancipation
1829 Catholic emancipation is delivered with the passing of the Roman Catholic Relief Act
1840 Repeal Association founded by OConnell to repeal the Acts of Union
1843 OConnells Monster Meetings attended by hundreds of thousands
184552 The Great Hunger in Ireland.
At least one million people die and an estimated one million emigrate 1848 Young Ireland uprising inspired by the Year of Revolutions. Leaders banished to Van Diemens Land (now Tasmania) 1858, 17 March The Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), also known as the Fenians, is formed with the express intention of overthrowing British rule in Ireland by whatever means necessary 1867, February & March Fenian uprising 1870, May Home Rule movement founded by Isaac Butt, who previously campaigned for amnesty for Fenian prisoners 187982 The Land War: agrarian agitation against English landlords 1884, 1 November The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) is founded. Immediately infiltrated by the IRB 1886, 8 April First Home Rule Bill for Ireland introduced in the House of Commons but fails to gain a majority 1893, 13 February Second Home Rule Bill introduced. House of Lords vetoes Bill later that year 1893, 31 July Conradh na Gaeilge (the Gaelic League) founded by Douglas Hyde and Eoin MacNeill 1900, September Cumann na nGaedheal (Irish Council) founded by Arthur Griffith 1905 Cumann na nGaedheal, the Dungannon Clubs and the National Council are amalgamated to form Sinn Fin (We Ourselves) 1909, August Countess Markievicz and Bulmer Hobson organise nationalist youths into Na Fianna ireann (Warriors of Ireland), a kind of boy-scout brigade 1912, 11 April Prime Minister H. H. Asquith introduces the Third Home Rule Bill to the British Parliament.
It is later rejected by the House of Lords, but the Parliament Act of 1911 had removed their right of veto. Home Rule expected to be introduced for Ireland by autumn 1914 1913, January Edward Carson and James Craig set up Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) with the intention of defending Ulster against Home Rule 1913, August Jim Larkin, founder of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union (ITGWU), calls for a strike for better pay and conditions
Police attacking strikers during the 1913 Dublin Lockout.1913, 26 August The Dublin Lockout begins
1913, 30 August James Nolan and James Byrne are beaten by police. Both die of their injuries within a few days. Widespread rioting in Dublin city
1913, 31 August Jim Larkin is arrested at a banned rally on Sackville Street. In the ensuing police attacks, hundreds are injured and John McDonagh, beaten in his home, dies a few days later. This day becomes known as Labours Bloody Sunday
1913, 23 November James Connolly, Jack White and Jim Larkin establish the Irish Citizen Army (ICA) in order to protect strikers
1913, 25 November The Irish Volunteers founded in Dublin to secure and maintain the rights and liberties common to all the people of Ireland