1.+d)+The+Easter+Uprising+and+the+IRA

The E aster Rising took place on April the 16th 1916. Sometimes called the Fenians (Fenians was a name adopted by John O'Mahony in the United States in 1858. The IRB was established in Ireland. Both groups were committed to eradicating British rule in Ireland) had attempted before various rebellions without success. Most people supported Home Rule over the policies of the IRB. A new younger generation joined the IRB and it was this young generation that would lead the GPO charge at the Easter rebellion. This was a group set up in 1913 to support Home Rule. When the first World War broke out many of the Irish Volunteers joined the war effort and supported Britain. It was a mere 10,000 or so men who were severley against British rule and cause that refused to support Britain at war. These men kept their name (The Irish Volunteers) and the other men who left to go to war became known as the National Volunteers. He was in charge of a union for Irish Transport and General Workers and was very anti-British. He organised a small militia group called the Irish Citizens Army which had around 200 men. He decided to stage his own uprising. When the IRB heard about this they asked him to join them and it would be James Connolly who would be one of the best commanders in the field.
 * The Easter Uprising **
 * Who was involved?**
 * The IRB and the Fenians**
 * The Irish Volunteers**
 * James Connolly**

IRB kept their plans of an uprising very secret. Only few knew about it and they were the IRB's militarty council. They desperately needed arms to stage their uprising. One of the Irish Volunteers, Sir Roger Casement had worked for the British Governments Foreign Office. He went to Germany (Britain's enemy) at the outbreak of the war and organised a shipment of arms aboard a German ship the Aud to be taken to Ireland. The Aud was intercepted by a Royal Navy Ship and the Aud's master scuttled (sunk) the ship and Sir Roger Casement was captured in a nearby German submarine. The British authorities relaxed knowing they had squashed the rebellion. Everyone in the Irish Volunteers and the IRB thought the rising was off. It was Mr Eoin MacNeill who was the leader of the Irish Volunteers who wanted the uprising cancelled. But the IRB's military council was determined for it to continue. They had only limited arms and decided the uprising would still go ahead. They met on Easter Sunday and decided they would go ahead on Easter Monday. On Easter Monday morning the IRB military council led a charge on the GPO in Dublin and flew the Irish Republic tricolour flag. Other small groups set themselves up in other locations around the city. The first shots of the Easter Rising were from James Connolly's Citizen Army at the Dublin Castle where they captured 6 soldiers in the guardhouse but then did not continue to take the castle, which they probably should have.
 * The lead up to the uprising**

The British did not attack until Tuesday morning. They hopelessly outnumbered the Irish rebels. It took 6 days of fighting before the Irish rebels finally had no choice but to surrender. Nurse Elizabeth O'Farrell wore red cross markings and carried the white flag of truce and spoke to General Lowe, commander of the British. She returned to the rebels and then took Pearse to General Lowe. Pearse handed over his sword and was taken to see General Maxwell to sign surrender documents. Connolly had been shot and was taken to the hospital. The leaders of the rebellion sentenced to execution by firing squad. Patrick Pearse, Thomas MacDonagh and Tom Clarke were the first to be shot. The public were beginning to protest against the executions. Those that signed the Proclamation were shot, all the deputies except Eamon De Valera was shot and then James Connolly who couldnt even walk was shot in a chair. There was no consistency is the executions. Some were spared.
 * The British Attack and Irish Surrender**

Those that were shot were made martyrs. Their deaths revived Irish republicanism and separation from England. The Sinn Fein a political party was blamed for the rebellion but they had nothing to do with it. They simply shared some of the ideas of the Irish Volunteers. This saw the rise of the Sinn Fein party to success. Apart from the Sinn Fein rising, the name of the Irish Republican Army was born also. This name was given to the men who fought in the Easter Uprising. It was first used by Nurse O'Farrell when she went to General Lowe to surrender. The Sinn Fein party won over the Home Rule party in the general election. They refused to take their seats in Westminister. The IRA was also beginning to stage a guerilla war campaign. This became known as the Irish War of Independence led by Michael Collins.
 * Result of the Rebellion**


 * The Easter Uprising Writing Task**