My wife Trish Darcy, to whom this unworthy work is dedicated, for her endurance, commitment, strength, love and unwavering support. My loving children Fionn and Lily May whose first words were James Connolly. My mother Treasa and my father Dermot and their strong sense of Irish culture and heritage. Michael OBrien for having the vision and bravery to take on this project with such enthusiasm. Mary Webb for her enduring support and guidance. My brilliant series co-editor Dr Run ODonnell. Susan Houlden for her editorial skills. Emma, Ivan, Ide, Kunak, Carol, Helen and everyone at the OBrien Press. Anne-Marie Ryan for her kindness and everyone at Kilmainham Goal. Conor Kostick for guidance and suggestions. John Donoghue, James Donoghue, Alan Martin, John Francis, Kenny and all at the International Bar for their constant support. John Gibney. Jim Connolly Heron. John Connolly. Seamus Connolly. Peter Reid. In Troy, New York: MaryEllen Quinn, Samantha Quinn. Jim P Coleman in Albany. Declan Mills. Joe Connell. Everyone at Dublin Tourism. Orla Collins and Mark Childerson, Aoife, Oisn and Ferdia. Diarmuid Collins and Eibhlis Connaughton. Carmel Darcy and Pat Darcy. All the Collins clan, the Farrell family and all the Darcy family. Ciara Gallagher. Rhonda Donagahy, SIPTU. Gary Quinn. Daith Turner. Prof Andrew Hazucha. Prof Shawn OHare, Prof John Wells. Brian Donnelly, Elizabeth McEvoy, Mick Flood and Lorcan Farrell at the National Archives. Keith Murphy at the National Photographic Archives. Gerry Kavanagh, Patrick Sweeney, Michael McHugh, James Harte, Colette ODaly at the National Library of Ireland. Lisa Dolan, Commandant Victor Laing, Noelle Grothier, Capt Stephen MacEoin, Pte Adrian Short and Hugh Beckett at the Bureau of Military Archives, Cathal Brugha Barracks. Rev Joseph Mallin, Hong Kong. All at Dublin Castle. Honor O Brolchain. All at the GPO. Brian Crowley and everyone at the Pearse Museum. Carol Murphy, SIPTU. Tom Stokes and Frank Allen. Paul Turnell. Shane MacThomis at Glasnevin Museum. David Kilmartin and the 191621 Club. Caoilfhionn N Bheachain. Terry ODonoghue. Caoimhe Nic Dhibhid. Cliff Housley and the WFR Museum, Sherwood Foresters Archives. Gearid Breathnach. Coiln ODufaigh. Ruar ODuinn. Nicky Furlong. Ciaran Wyse at Cork County Library. Dan Burt and Deb Felder. Mick Green, Kevin Lee and Joseph Dowse in Carnew, Wicklow. The 16 Lives authors a great collective. Thank you also to all my friends and colleagues for their patience and support and finally thanks to all the Dubliners who pass me by every day with a cheery word or two.
184551. The Great Hunger in Ireland. One million people die and over the next decades millions more emigrate.
1858, March 17. The Irish Republican Brotherhood, or Fenians, are formed with the express intention of overthrowing British rule in Ireland by whatever means necessary.
1867, February and March. Fenian Uprising.
1870, May. Home Rule movement, founded by Isaac Butt, who had previously campaigned for amnesty for Fenian prisoners
187981. The Land War. Violent agrarian agitation against English landlords.
1884, November 1. The Gaelic Athletic Association founded immediately infiltrated by the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB).
1893, July 31. Gaelic League founded by Douglas Hyde and Eoin MacNeill. The Gaelic Revival, a period of Irish Nationalism, pride in the language, history, culture and sport.
1900, September.Cumann na nGaedheal (Irish Council) founded by Arthur Griffith.
190507.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, April. Asquith introduces the Third Home Rule Bill to the British Parliament. Passed by the Commons and rejected by the Lords, the Bill would have to become law due to the Parliament Act. Home Rule expected to be introduced for Ireland by autumn 1914.
1913, January. Sir Edward Carson and James Craig set up Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) with the intention of defending Ulster against Home Rule.
1913. Jim Larkin, founder of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union (ITGWU) calls for a workers strike for better pay and conditions.
1913, August 31. Jim Larkin speaks at a banned rally on Sackville Street; Bloody Sunday.
1913, November 23. James Connolly, Jack White and Jim Larkin establish the Irish Citizen Army (ICA) in order to protect strikers.
1913, November 25. The Irish Volunteers founded in Dublin to secure the rights and liberties common to all the people of Ireland.
1914, March 20. Resignations of British officers force British government not to use British army to enforce Home Rule, an event known as the Curragh Mutiny.
1914, April 2. In Dublin, Agnes OFarrelly, Mary MacSwiney, Countess Markievicz and others establish Cumann na mBan as a womens volunteer force dedicated to establishing Irish freedom and assisting the Irish Volunteers.
1914, April 24. A shipment of 35,000 rifles and five million rounds of ammunition is landed at Larne for the UVF.
1914, July 26. Irish Volunteers unload a shipment of 900 rifles and 45,000 rounds of ammunition shipped from Germany aboard Erskine Childers yacht, the Asgard. British troops fire on crowd on Bachelors Walk, Dublin. Three citizens are killed.
1914, August 4. Britain declares war on Germany. Home Rule for Ireland shelved for the duration of the First World War.
1914, September 9. Meeting held at Gaelic League headquarters between IRB and other extreme republicans. Initial decision made to stage an uprising while Britain is at war.
1914, September. 170,000 leave the Volunteers and form the National Volunteers or Redmondites. Only 11,000 remain as the Irish Volunteers under Ein MacNeill.
1915, MaySeptember. Military Council of the IRB is formed.
1915, August 1. Pearse gives fiery oration at the funeral of Jeremiah ODonovan Rossa.
1916, January 1922. James Connolly joined the IRB Military Council, thus ensuring that the ICA shall be involved in the Rising. Rising date confirmed for Easter.
1916, April 20, 4.15pm.The Aud arrives at Tralee Bay, laden with 20,000 German rifles for the Rising. Captain Karl Spindler waits in vain for a signal from shore.