Sharing memories of the Scottish born Irish republican, socialist and trade union leader James Connolly.
James Connolly was one of the seven signatories of the Proclamation and was executed at Kilmainham Gaol for his part in the Easter Rising on 12 May 1916.
Cathal O'Shannon, Mary Connolly Richards, John Doherty, and Sidney Gifford Czira offer personal recollections of James Connolly.
Cathal O'Shannon, a founder of the Irish Volunteers in Belfast, was among one hundred volunteers mobilised at Coalisland, County Tyrone, during the Rising. He remembers James Connolly as a cool, calm, and passionate leader who appealed more to reason than emotion.
An impressive and deliberate speaker, James Connolly possessed a natural connection with ordinary people, yet never sought to cultivate a following for its own sake. He had overcome a childhood speech impediment through sheer determination, though certain words, most notably, socialism, remained difficult for him to pronounce. As a result, his public speaking style was often slow, but always thoughtful and considered.
James Connolly’s niece, Mary Connolly Richards, remembers him as a kind, pleasant man, small in stature, with dark hair.
Belfast docker John Doherty describes James Connolly as a civil, approachable figure who spoke easily with people and appreciated when others followed his guidance.
Writer, journalist, and revolutionary Sidney Gifford Czira notes that while Connolly was not a natural orator, he was an excellent lecturer, and she fondly remembered his sharp, quick-witted sarcasm.
James Connolly’s daughter, Nora, recalls that although her father was not strongly religious, he was deeply committed to socialism and nationalism. She remembers attending mass with her father on one occasion when the priest delivered a pointed criticism clearly aimed at Connolly. Rather than walking out, James Connolly quietly insisted they remain, allowing the priest to say his piece.
'On Behalf Of The Provisional Government: James Connolly' was broadcast on 13 April 1966. The programme was produced by Aindreas Ó Gallchoir.
