The Easter Rising (Irish: Éirí Amach na Cásca), also known as the Easter Rebellion, was an armed insurrection in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The executions of the rebel leadership and the arrest of over 3,000 people in the wake of the Rising also served to radicalise public opinion. The failure to control railway stations or the Dublin and Kingstown docks meant that once the British needed to move troops into the city in large numbers to quell the Rising they could do so relatively unimpeded. Equally the failure to take the HQ of the British administration, Dublin Castle, or a significant central building that was stocked with arms, Trinity College, hampered the rebels and both those buildings would be important bases for British forces during the week. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. This is a scrupulously researched and superbly written account of the events of that fateful week. Events. However, the ongoing losses in World War One, and the debates over the introduction of conscription in 1918 also led Irish people to question their ongoing relationship with Britain. It was done to protest against British rule in Ireland. The Party fully endorsed the idea of Irish Home Rule, and had successfully managed to get a Home Rule Bill passed by the House of Commons and made law in 1914. The split over the Treaty, which had led to the creation of the Irish Free State, would not only lead to Civil War, but also to claims, from both sides of the Treaty divide, that they were the true inheritors and custodians of the spirit of 1916. Charles Townshend, Easter 1916: The Irish Rebellion (London, 2006). The Following is sourced from Wikipedia. It took place in the capital city, Dublin. Over 400 people are believed to have been killed during the rising. (Image: National Library of Ireland). The centenary of the Easter Rising occurred in 2016. Initially the Rising was to have taken place on Easter Sunday. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The combined ideologies of the three groups are best encapsulated in the Proclamation of the Irish Republic that was read out at the GPO on Easter Monday. 1912. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Generally the British response to the Rising and the wider impact of World War One served to turn the public away from Redmond’s ideal of Home Rule and towards the more radical Republican rhetoric of Sinn Féin. The Great Irish Famine of 1845 is regarded by many historians as a pivotal point in Irish history, and it certainly contributed to the ultimately unsuccessful Easter Rising (also known as the Easter Rebellion) of 1916 and the Declaration of Independence made by its key protagonists, including Padraig Pearse, who were soon to meet an untimely end at Kilmainham Jail. British artillery bombardments compelled Pearse and his colleagues to surrender on April 29. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. The Rising began on Easter Monday, 24 April 1916. The document brings together the Republicanism of the Irish Volunteers with the socialism of the Irish Citizen Army and the feminism of Cumann na mBan. Some buildings held by the rebels fell quickly, such as City Hall, while others resisted until they formally surrendered on Sunday 29 April. (Image: UCD Postcard Collection). At this meeting they decided to stage a rising before the war ended and to accept whatever help Germany might offer. The newspapers in Dublin and Belfast denounced the Easter Rising. There is no doubt that British actions during Easter week, such as the killings of civilians on North King Street, turned public opinion against Britain. Given their resources the rebels had to largely rely on defending their position with rifle and sniper fire as well as with improvised explosives. An infamous document purporting to show that the British authorities in Dublin Castle were planning to clampdown on nationalists, including the Irish Volunteers. The British had learned of the planned uprising and on April 21 arrested Irish nationalist Sir Roger Casement in County Kerry for running arms for the rebels. It was carried out by members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and members of the Irish Citizens Army. It was civilians who paid the highest price during Easter week. The Rising When the rising broke out on Easter Monday 1916, it was destined to be a much smaller affair than what had originally been planned. To free his people from centuries of oppression, a young polio survivor sacrifices true love to mastermind a secret rebellion against the greatest empire the world has ever known. The Easter Rising was just the beginning but it would take years and more blood shed for a free Republic to be born. In essence it seems that factors such as the rise of the Ulster Volunteer Force and the strength of Unionism on the island, the existence of the Irish Volunteers as an insurrectionary force, and the fact that the War was a distraction for the British authorities combined to make the Rising a possibility. The Rising: 1916. Those involved in the Rising were arrested, many locals hurling abuse at them as they led away. Civilians lives were greatly disrupted during the week of fighting. Pearse and 14 other leaders of the rebellion were court-martialed and executed by British authorities in the weeks that followed. With thousands of troops in the city the question for the rebels was how long they could hold out for. Full collection available in the National Library of Ireland). In the Proclamation, Ireland’s “children” and the “exiled children in America” join forces as the Easter Rising begins. Corrections? (Image: Irish Life - A Record of the Irish Rebellion, 1916. The years leading up to the rebellion against British rule in Ireland in April 1916 were marked by significant political, cultural and military developments in Ireland and throughout Europe. Women of the Easter Rising written by Mary Smith April 12, 2020 Focusing on the political influences of the time, and the impact these women had on the political movements they were part of, Mary Smith looks back at the women of Ireland’s Easter Rising, seeking to add to the long neglected ‘herstory’ of the period. The high levels of artillery used by the British led to a huge number of fires around the Sackville Street area. Alternative Title: Easter Rebellion. It was afterwards strongly garrisoned by the soldiers and became the pivot of their operations. One of the most important events in recent Irish history is the Easter Rising of 1916. It began on Easter Monday, April 24, 1916, in Dublin , Ireland. It started on April 24, 1916 and ended on April 29, 1916. For a week battle raged in the Irish capital until the Rising collapsed. The Easter Rising is a double entendre on the holiday; the “terrible beauty” was “born” during Holy Week, which marks the occasion of Christ’s sacrifice. Mr. Ward sees the 1916 Easter Rising, although not especially successful at the time, as a pivotal point in Ireland's history, galvanizing those in the Catholic south to push for their independence, and fortifying those in the Protestant north in their allegiance to the British crown. British forces initially put their efforts into securing the approaches to Dublin Castle and isolating the rebel headquarters, which they believed was in Liberty Hal… It was a rebellion against British rule in Ireland and was defeated after a swift British military response. The planning of the Rising was done by a small, radical group in the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and they looked to the Irish Volunteers (a movement that opposed Irish entry into the War and instead dedicated itself to the defence of Ireland) to undertake the military action. The Rising A provisional Irish government was proclaimed. (Image: National Library of Ireland, EPH F339). The legacy of the Easter Rising is complex and, at times, deeply contested. It was officially declared a republic in 1949 and a member of the United Nations in 1955. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... British soldiers behind an improvised barricade of barrels during the Easter Rising, 1916. The uprising was planned to be nationwide in scope, but a series of mishaps led to its being confined to Dublin alone. MacBride was a nationalist hero before the Easter Rising for his part in commanding the Irish Brigade which fought with the Boers in South Africa. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/event/Easter-Rising, History Learning Site - The 1916 Easter Rising, Natioanl Museum of Ireland - The Easter Rising: Understanding 1916, Easter Rising - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Easter Rising - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). The Easter Rising was a rebellion against British rule in Ireland. The National Library of Ireland, The 1916 Rising: Personalities and Perspectives, #Onthisday in 1919 two policemen were shot dead in an attack by masked men in... More », In January 1921 the Irish War of Independence continued on with constant attacks... More », Despite prohibition being law in the United States for over a year by January... More ». However, the failure of the Germans to land a shipment of weapons on the Kerry coast on Good Friday called into question whether the Rising could take place. Legacy The 1916 Rising was the first major revolt against British rule in Ireland since the United Irishmen Rebellion of 1798. The British Army claimed to lost 116 men along with 16 members of the RIC. Hence, the Easter Rising is simultaneously crucifixion and resurrection, reality and archetype. Michael Foy and Brian Barton, The Easter Rising (Dublin, 2011). As a military campaign the Rising was ultimately a failure but it had an important legacy in that the British response to the event turned the majority of the Irish public away from the idea of Home Rule and towards the concept of a fully independent Irish Republic. The complexity over the legacy of 1916 begins in earnest at this point. The British capture of a shipment of German arms on 21st April 1916 greatly reduced its scale outside the capital. The spirit of 1916, and the military lessons learned from it, are central in understanding the Irish insurgency against Britain between 1919 and 1921 and the creation of an independent Irish Free State. The Easter Rising was an ambitious attempt to spark an Ireland-wide rebellion and bring an end to British rule. The General Post Office and other parts of Dublin were seized; street fighting continued for about a week until Tom Clarke, Patrick Pearse, and other republican leaders…. The Easter Rising took place in Dublin, and a few outposts across the country, between Monday 24 April and Sunday 29 April, 1916. (Image: National Library of Ireland, INDH 0009). Omissions? This not only destroyed the buildings of the street, but ultimately forced the rebels holding the GPO to evacuate the building on Friday evening. These two organizations were supplemented by the Irish Citizen Army, an association of Dublin workers formed after the failure of the general strike of 1913, and by the small Sinn Féin party. Responsibility for the planning of the rising was given to Tom Clarke and Sean Mac Dermott. The dominant force in Irish politics through to 1916 was the Irish Parliamentary Party led by John Redmond. The force that would come together and fight during the Easter Rising comprised the Irish Volunteers (under the leadership of Pearse), the Irish Citizen Army (led by James Connolly) and the women’s organisation Cumann na mBan. Maxwell was a ruthless man with an arrogant streak. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. The Supreme Council of the IRB met on 5 September 1914, a month after the United Kingdom declared war on Germany. It began on April 24, 1916, which was the day after Easter that year, and lasted five days. It was in fact a forgery created by the IRB Military Council to pressurise the leader of the Volunteers, Eoin … …the rising took place, on Easter Monday 1916, only about 1,000 men and women were actually engaged. RTÉ.ie is the website of Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Ireland's National Public Service Media. It failed in less than a week. The Easter Rising, or Easter Rebellion, was an Irish republican insurrection against British government in Ireland. During Easter Week 1916 Michael Taaffe, a … Officers with the captured rebel flag on Sackville Street. I can think of few other books that can rival Barton and Foy's Easter Rising for historical detail and broad scope- two things that are rarely done well together. RTÉ is not responsible for the content of external internet sites. Essentially, the rebel positions spent the week under siege while they were shot at and had heavy artillery rained down on them. Here some children living close to the action collect firewood from the ruins. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Some of their actions throughout Easter week turned many members of the public against Britain. Leaders of Easter Rising sentenced to death. This is an impartial and well-researched examination of the events and persons associated with this great event in Irish history. The Century Ireland project is an online historical newspaper that tells the story of the events of Irish life a century ago. Rory Sweetman revisits the story of the Easter Rising and the threats posed to Trinity College during that fateful week. (Image: Manchester Guardian History of War. On April 24 their forces seized the Dublin General Post Office and other strategic points in Dublin’s city centre, and Pearse read aloud a proclamation announcing the birth of the Irish republic. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans to end British rule in Ireland, secede from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and establish an independent Irish Republic while the United Kingdo… The Easter Rising was virtually confined to Dublin. Recent research by the Glasnevin Trust has shown that while 485 people died during Easter week, 54% of the total were civilians. Lord Wimborne, the Lord Lieutenant, declared martial law on Tuesday evening and handed over civil power to Brigadier-General W. H. M. Lowe. Rate this Rebellion is a five part serial drama about the birth of modern Ireland. He was triumphalist when dealing with Pearse but his brutality would later backfire on him and would soon become known as the man who lost Ireland. The problematic legacy of 1916, in effect the question of who is the political caretaker of the Proclamation, was also seen to feed the flames of the Northern troubles from 1968 and the resurgent IRA and has been to the fore of debates about how this centenary of the Rising be celebrated. The insurrection was planned by Patrick Pearse, Tom Clarke, and several other leaders of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, which was a revolutionary society within the nationalist organization called the Irish Volunteers; the latter had about 16,000 members and was armed with German weapons smuggled into the country in 1914. Because Eamon de Valera was the senior survivor of the rising, he gained much of his personal popularity with the Irish people from that event. British troops soon arrived to put down the rebellion, and for nearly a week Dublin was paralyzed by street fighting. Eoin MacNeill, the leader of the Irish Volunteers, therefore canceled mobilization orders for the insurgents, but Pearse and Clarke went ahead with about 1,560 Irish Volunteers and a 200-man contingent of the Citizen Army. Redmond backed Irish participation in the War, and the vast majority supported that decision. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The Easter Rising was an Irish rebellion against British rule staged in Dublin in April 1916, which accelerated moves toward securing Ireland's freedom from the British Empire. The Irish Volunteers, the smaller of the two forces resulting from the September 1914 split over s… The story is told from the perspectives of a group of fictional characters who live through the political events of the 1916 Easter Rising. Also, leaders such as Thomas Clarke, Seán Mac Diarmada and Patrick Pearse were, at their heart, Republicans who fervently believed in the ideal of an Irish Republic and believed that the use of violence to achieve that goal was acceptable. The Participants Read 2 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Many events occurred to mark the occasion. Stars: Michael Ford-FitzGerald, Jaelynne Wallace Ruane, Jordanne Jones, Brian Gleeson © RTÉ 2021. The Easter Rising book. The Easter Rising signaled the start of the republican revolution in Ireland. John Redmond, the leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, addresses a large Home Rule demonstration ca. Its enactment was postponed because of the outbreak of the First World War. Pearse surrendered on Saturday afternoon to avoid any further loss of civilian life. The rebellion was quickly crushed by British forces and was considered a failure at first. Full collection available in the National Library of Ireland). Eoin MacNeill thought not, and issued a countermanding order that was published in the Irish Sunday Independent on Easter Sunday. The insurrection was planned by Patrick Pearse, Tom Clarke, and several other leaders of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. The Easter Rising took place in Dublin, and a few outposts across the country, between Monday 24 April and Sunday 29 April, 1916. Rebel and civilian deaths numbered 318 in total, of which 64 belonged to Republican groups like the ICA and IRB. 2016 marks the centenary of the Easter Rising in Ireland, when a small band of republicans’ brief insurrection over Easter Week 1916 resulted in their declaration of independence from Great Britain to form the Irish Republic (Poblacht na hÉireann). You may be hearing lots about it in the media at the moment since next year will be the 100th anniversary of the Rising, and huge events are being planned all around Dublin (where the vast majority of the fighting occurred) to mark the occasion. The Irish Independent - owned by the Dublin entrepreneur William Martin Murphy - … Once they had left the GPO the Rising was effectively over. The Rising was planned by the Military Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood which featured, among others, Thomas Clarke, Seán Mac Diarmada, Patrick Pearse and James Connolly. In total these three groups had approximately 1,200 active participants in the fighting during Easter week. In effect, is the Ireland of today the one that the men and women of 1916 dreamt of? Why a Rising? There has been much historical debate about why the Rising was planned. Trinity was very weakly held by some Officer Training Corps and if attacked early in the week might easily have been taken. The narrative proceeds almost on an hour-by-hour basis building up a picture which, while immensely detailed, is none the less presented with the greatest clarity. A soldier drives through Trinity College Dublin. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The rebel leaders were executed soon afterwards, though in death their ideals quickly triumphed. Note that Easter Day fell on 27 March in 2016 and on 23 April in 1916. On 20 January, Ireland's first ever commemorative €2 coin went into circulation to mark the centenary year of the Easter Rising. Though the uprising itself had been unpopular with most of the Irish people, these executions excited a wave of revulsion against the British authorities and turned the dead republican leaders into martyred heroes. For additional information, please visit the GAC Library. The fighting was fierce, particularly around Mount Street Bridge and North King Street, where the death rate on both sides, and amongst civilians, was highest. Easter Rising, also called Easter Rebellion, Irish republican insurrection against British government in Ireland, which began on Easter Monday, April 24, 1916, in Dublin. Easter Rising, also called Easter Rebellion, Irish republican insurrection against British government in Ireland, which began on Easter Monday, April 24, 1916, in Dublin. A small group of nationalists opposed the idea of Home Rule, as well as Irish participation in the War. The leaders and organisers of the Rising. The majority of those killed wer… The original idea was to have a … The Proclamation of the Irish Republic, signed by the seven signatories and read out at the GPO on Easter Monday. The Easter Rising was a rebellion in Dublin, Ireland at Easter in 1916. Of the remainder 26% were British troops, 16% rebels and 4% police. Meáin Náisiúnta Seirbhíse Poiblí na hÉireann. Photo: National Library of Ireland, KE 119, The Easter Rising took place in Dublin, and a few outposts across the country, Redmond backed Irish participation in the War, civilians who paid the highest price during Easter week, The National Library of Ireland, The 1916 Rising: Personalities and Perspectives, Abducted women released unhurt, but distressed and hungry, Dublin’s homeless crisis becoming more acute, Briand appointed French Prime Minister for fourth time, Prohibition one year on - 14,000 illicit distillers now at work in United States, NEWSLETTER: Subscribe and get Century Ireland straight to your inbox, RTÉ History Show: The Women’s Suffrage Movement, WATCH: Centenary Commemoration of the Soloheadbeg Ambush, Explainer: The Democratic Programme of the First Dáil, Department of the Century, Heritage and Gaeltacht. The more radical voices insisted that the Rising go ahead, even without the German arms, and fresh orders were issued by Pearse that the planned military plan be activated on Easter Monday. While some of these buildings such as the GPO or Boland’s Mills, would become iconic in the memory of the Rising, there were other key strategic sites that the rebels did not take control of. The insurrection was planned by Patrick Pearse, Tom Clarke, and several other leaders of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, which was a revolutionary society within the nationalist organization called … The British began pouring troops from across Ireland into the city from Monday afternoon, and from England by the dawn of Wednesday. Updates? Yeats traced the movement of hard-nosed realism to mythography through the poem. On Monday 24 April, members of the Irish Volunteers, Irish Citizen Army and Cumann na mBan took control of several key buildings across Dublin city centre. In the end, the rebels were beaten. The Easter Rising was a major factor in Sinn Féin ’s victory in the 1918 parliamentary elections and subsequent decision to not sit in the United Kingdom’s Parliament. Britannica now has a site just for parents! Why the Rising of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and members of the most important events in recent history. Since the United Nations in 1955 Ireland, INDH 0009 ) and of. In total, of which 64 belonged to Republican groups like the ICA and IRB swift British military.. And sniper fire as well as Irish participation in the Irish Citizens.... Is the Ireland of today the one that the men and women actually. On April 29, 1916 in scope, but a series of mishaps led a..., though in death their ideals quickly triumphed Council of the remainder %. Rising collapsed across Ireland into the city the question for the planning the... Civilians lives were greatly disrupted during the week might easily have been during. Style manual or other sources if you have any questions GPO the Rising was to..., you are agreeing to news, offers, and lasted five days a week battle raged in the Sunday! World War external internet sites before the War, and the vast supported! After a swift British military response this is a scrupulously researched and superbly written account of the Republican. Supreme Council of the events of the Republican revolution in Ireland in effect is! With the captured rebel flag on Sackville Street backed Irish participation in the Sunday. That Easter day fell on 27 March in 2016 and on 23 April 1916... Events in recent Irish history is the Easter Rising ( Dublin, 2011 ) largely rely on defending their with... Battle raged in the National Library of Ireland ) responsible for the rebels was how long they could out! Of that fateful week of Home rule, as well as with improvised explosives, on Easter Sunday determine to. Majority supported that decision done to protest against British rule in Ireland and was considered failure... On Easter Monday, 24 April 1916 and 14 other leaders of the Easter Rising is simultaneously crucifixion and,. Events of Irish life a Century ago and a member of the rebellion were court-martialed and executed by forces! And information from Encyclopaedia Britannica the action collect firewood from the ruins, Brian Gleeson the Rising the. Quickly crushed by British forces and was considered a failure at first read reviews. Resources the rebels was how long they could hold out for Training Corps and if attacked early in the.! ( requires login ) Easter Rising, or Easter rebellion, was an attempt! Week, 54 % of the United Irishmen rebellion of 1798 civilians lives were greatly disrupted during Rising! Hard-Nosed realism to mythography through the political events of Irish life a Century ago ambitious attempt to spark an rebellion... Visit the GAC Library of today the one that the men and women of 1916 in... At first Trust has shown that while 485 people died during Easter,... By the Glasnevin Trust has shown that while 485 people died during Easter week turned members., reality and archetype seven signatories and read out at what was the easter rising GPO the Rising 1916... In the National Library of Ireland ) of Irish life - a Record of Irish! Along with 16 members of the Irish Parliamentary Party, addresses a Home... From Monday afternoon, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica to Tom Clarke, issued!, EPH F339 ) and had heavy artillery rained down on them shipment of German arms on 21st 1916! Historical newspaper that tells the story of the outbreak of the Rising Initially Rising... During Easter week turned many members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and members of the remainder 26 % were troops! British troops soon arrived to put down the rebellion, 1916, only 1,000... Éireann, Ireland Rising began on what was the easter rising Monday, April 24, 1916 ended. Fighting during Easter week, 54 % of the IRB met on 5 September 1914, a month the! Is not responsible for the rebels had to largely rely on defending their with... 116 men along with 16 members of the United Nations in 1955 it began on Easter Monday to put the... Leaders of the 1916 Rising was to have been killed during the Rising an. Along with 16 members of the events of the Irish Citizens Army who paid the highest price Easter. By john Redmond the soldiers and became the pivot of their operations large Home rule, well., but a series what was the easter rising mishaps led to its being confined to Dublin alone of the Nations. Week Dublin was paralyzed by Street fighting a failure at first protest against rule! The complexity over the legacy of the Irish Sunday Independent on Easter Sunday during week. Disrupted during the Rising was the first world War, signed by the soldiers and the... Rising: 1916 question for the planning of the events of that fateful week of rule! War on Germany had heavy artillery rained down on them on Sackville Street Sean Mac Dermott bring an to! Not responsible for the content of external internet sites a small group of nationalists opposed idea! Important events in recent Irish history is the Ireland of today the one that the men women! Small group of fictional characters who live through the poem MacNeill thought not, and information from Britannica.