Easter 1916

Seachtar na Cásca tells the story of the shopkeeper, tobacconist and old Fenian Tom Clarke who many believe to have been the brains and driving force behind the 1916 Easter Rising.

James Connolly was born to Irish parents in the slums of Edinburgh and joined the British Army by lying about his age when he was just 15; posted to Ireland he saw first hand the extreme poverty in Dublin and before long he left the Army.

The life story of Joseph Mary Plunkett, born in 1887 to a very well to do family, but who became involved in the Military Council that planned the Easter Rising; he was sentenced to death and executed on May 4th.

Seán Mac Diarmada was born in Kiltyclogher, County Leitrim on February 28th 1883; he became involved in republican politics at an early age joining Sinn Féin and going on to become one of the national organisers of the political party.

Thomas MacDonagh was born in 1878, the eldest son of two primary school-teachers in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary. He went to Rockwell College in 1892 to study for the priesthood but left again in 1901 abandoning his vocation. A playright, poet and university lecturer MacDonagh commanded the Volunteer forces in Jacob's Biscuit Factory during the rising and was later jailed. MacDonagh was executed on May 3rd 1916.

Éamonn Ceannt was born Edward Thomas Kent in Ballymoe County Galway on September 21st 1881; it was in Dublin that young Edward became interested in the growing wave of growing Irish nationalism.