The Week of the Rising : Easter Monday

"There was never a more motley crowd of men ever paraded to fight for Ireland"

In this second episode participants describe the mobilisation on Easter Monday at various points around the city and the effect the countermanding order had on the Rising. Determined to proceed with their plans it fell to each Commanding Officer to deploy his men and women as best they could in their areas.

Liam O Brian describes how on his return to Dublin that day he went around the city to see for himself what was happening. On hearing the sound of gunfire he knew the Rising was on and made his way to the nearest outpost, which for him was Stephen's Green.

Simon Donnelly, 3rd Battalion recalls that despite their low numbers and their limited supply of arms and ammunition, his men more than made up for this shortcoming with their spirit.

Nora Connolly, daughter of James Connolly was sent with her sister Ina and a number of other girls from Dublin to meet with the Volunteers in Belfast and Tyrone with word that the Rising had begun. She remembers that on reaching their destination they waited and waited for more instructions from Dublin but none came.

Volunteer Archie Heron was stationed in Coalisland, Tyrone and remembers the mixed messages he kept receiving throughout the day on what he was to do.

Piaras Béaslaí, Vice Commandant of the 1st Battalion, Dublin Brigade describes the vast area that Commandant Edward Daly had under his command in and around the Four Courts. Their position was most important as the aim was to prevent the British Army from entering the city from the Royal (Collins) Barracks and Kingsbridge (Heuston) Station. They had not long to wait before they had their first taste of battle when shortly after they had taken their positions a party of Lancers passed their location.

Tadhg Gahan served under Thomas MacDonagh, Commandant of the 2nd Battalion, Irish Volunteers in Jacob's Biscuit Factory. He recalls how the men bored through the walls of neighbouring buildings and how the factory was well defended against attack.

Cormac Turner was a member of the Kimmage Garrison and recalls how he and his comrades took a tram into the city from Larkfield in Kimmage and how George Plunkett, their Captain paid the fare for all of them.

"We were honest lads and not hooligans".

He fought in Hopkins and Hopkins during the Rising.

Desmond Ryan describes the participation of the Irish Citizen Army during the fighting in the GPO, Stephen's Green and City Hall.

Frank Robbins, a member of the Citizen Army remembers that as he was marching off from Liberty Hall he was stopped by Pat Fox whose son James was a member of the Irish Volunteers. He asked Robbins to look after his son but it was to no avail, young Fox was killed on Easter Tuesday at Stephen's Green.

Helena Molony describes the takeover of City Hall and how she was unable to help her Commanding Officer Sean Connolly when he was mortally wounded by a sniper a short time later.

"I said a prayer into his ear as he went".

PJ Stephenson was a member of 'D' Company 1st Battalion, Irish Volunteers and served under Captain Seán Heuston in the Mendicity Institute and describes how soon after they had occupied the building they opened fire on a party of soldiers making their way into the city.


Title:	The Week of the Rising : Easter Monday
Clip Duration:	00.31.11
Material Type:	Audio
Clip Title:	"There was never a more motley crowd of men ever paraded to fight for Ireland."
Series Title:	The Week of the Rising
Information:	Using interviews with many men and women who had participated in the Easter Rising, the radio series 'The Week of the Rising' chronicled the events of that week in April 1916. It was one of many programmes produced to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Easter Rising. The series was broadcast over eight consecutive nights, each episode being a day by day account of the events beginning with Easter Sunday and Eoin MacNeill's countermanding order right through to the surrender on Sunday 30 April. As presenter Proinsias Mac Aonghusa the series "Is not a definitive history of the Rising. We make no judgements, we do not claim to tell the full story. We present for a new generation the story of what happened as the men and women made history that Easter Week describe it themselves." The interviews of at least twenty-five veterans were used in the production of this series including Nora Connolly, Simon Donnelly, Paddy Buttner, Emily Hanratty, Michael Hayes, Cormac Turner, John O'Connor and Margaret Skinnider to name a few. 'The Week of the Rising' was presented by Proinsias Mac Aonghusa and was broadcast from 10 April until 17 April 1966.
Local Keywords:	1916, 1916 Rising, Easter, Easter 1916, MacNeill, Liam O Briain, Nora Connolly, Archie Heron, Piaras Béaslaí, Tadhg Gahan, Simon Donnelly, Cormac Turner, Desmond Ryan, Frank Robbins, Helena Molony, PJ Stephenson, Countermanding Order
Coverage:	Ireland
Topic:	Wars and Conflict
Contributor(s):	Proinsias Mac Aonghusa
Publisher:	RTÉ
First Broadcast Channel:	Radio Éireann
Broadcast Date:	11/04/1966
Production Year:	1966
Country of Production:	Ireland
Original Identifier:	LQD0170A
IPR Restrictions:	Rights Reserved - Free Access
Rights, Terms and Conditions:	Copyright RTÉ. This material may not be replicated in any form or manner without the prior express permission of RTÉ. Any form of reproduction in print, television, video, multimedia, web site or other electronic media or any form of dissemination for commercial or non-commercial use must be licensed by the RTÉ Archives. If you wish to licence video or audio clips, still images or text, or would like further guidance please contact us. RTÉ Archives are committed to respecting the copyright of others and have attempted to source and credit the copyright owners of all material used here. RTÉ would like to hear from any copyright owners who are not properly identified here so that the necessary corrections can be made. If you feel your copyright has not been respected please contact us.
Item Type:	whole
Sound:	Mono
Language:	English (eng)