Rising? Original plan involved 5,000 men being on the streets of Dublin-now only 1,600. Plan? Take a number of buildings around Dublin, adopt a defensive/besieged position and hold out for as long as possible. Noble, but hopeless. Connolly took the GPO, Edward Daly the Four Courts, MacDonagh Jacob’s factory, De Valera Boland’s mills, Ceannt South Dublin workhouse, Mallin St Stephen’s Green and College of surgeons. Noon 24/4/1916 Connolly takes GPO and Pearse proclaims the Irish Republic-only a handful heard him. Few had any idea what was happening. Proclamation referred to “gallant allies in Europe”-Germany, treason and a stab in the back from the British perspective. Claimed the provisional govt would administer the civil and military affairs of the republic in trust for the people-promised equality, tolerance and universal suffrage. Clarke, Ceannt, Connolly, Pearse, Plunkett, MacDonagh and MacDiarmada signed it.

British reaction? Uncertainty as to what had happened or what was happening. Easter Tuesday, Redmond denounced the rising as a German plot-but general belief was that it had been orchestrated by Sinn Fein-believed Shinners had seized GPO. By late Monday the insurgents’ position had been strengthened-now how long could they hold out for? British reinforcements hurried in-fearful of a German invasion. Brigadier General Lowe in charge of British forces in Dublin-heavy artillery fire made situation difficult for rebels who had hoped for a street battle. By Thursday 12,000 British troops in Dublin-situation in GPO desperate-Connolly wounded, evacuation led by The O’Rahilly. The O’Rahilly killed leading the evacuation-“Because I helped to wind the clock, I came to hear it strike” Saturday Pearse surrendered unconditionally to Lowe. Rising ended on the Sunday. 450 killed, 2500 wounded. 64 rebels killed, 120 wounded, 300 civilians killed, 2,000 wounded, 132 British soldiers killed, 397 wounded.

Post-Rising Dublin in ruins-middle-class businesses the worst affected. John Dillon warned British in Westminster not to execute the leaders-said public opinion in Dublin opposed to the rising but could change if the leaders became martyrs. British ignored his plea-by 12 May 1916 15 of the leaders had been executed-General Maxwell in charge-determined to punish those responsible. But, Connolly incapable of standing up to be executed, Plunkett also was in terrible health when killed. Dillon, in Westminster went as far as to praise their bravery. Others sentenced to death but had sentences commuted to life in prison, including Dev and Countess Markievicz. Within a month, public opinion had changed-insurgents no longer being blamed, instead Brit govt and failure to implement HR, pandering to Unionists etc. By June, all is “changed, changed utterly/A terrible beauty is born”

Military solution of Maxwell had failed-would politicians do any better? May-July 1916 Asquith invited Lloyd George to “bring about a permanent solution to the Irish question” Introduce HR immediately but with the exclusion of 6 Ulster counties-but temporary or permanent exclusion? LG told Carson he would introduce HR immediately but exclude 6 Ulster counties permanently-swore Carson to secrecy. LG told Redmond he would introduce HR immediately but exclude 6 Ulster counties temporarily-swore Redmond to secrecy. But by July, LG more concerned with the Somme than Ireland-in charge of War office-summoned Redmond and told him of permanent exclusion of Ulster. Redmond objected but could do little-situation remained the same as it was before the Rising-Redmond beginning to lose faith in the British administration.

June-July 1916 trial of Sir Roger Casement-prosecuted by Attorney general Sir FE “Galloper” Smith. Member of Asquith’s coalition-had helped Carson and Craig with Larne gun-running-this information was not permissible in the trial. Casement’s time in Germany when Britain was at her most vulnerable didn’t help-neither did the fact that he returned on a German submarine. Bombing raids in London, backdrop of The Somme. But Casment had come back to stop the rising-this evidence was also deemed impermissible. Found guilty of treason, sentenced to be executed. Campaign emerged to have his sentence commuted to life in prison, but emergence of Casement diaries ended this. 3 August 1916 Casement executed-number executed in 1916 rose to 16. Casement died a lonely, broken, misunderstood man.