Charles Carrigan facts for kids
Charles Edward Carrigan (also known as Cathal Éamonn O'Corragáin in Irish) was an important person who wanted Ireland to be an independent country. He was born on April 28, 1882, and sadly passed away on his birthday, April 28, 1916.
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Who Was Charles Carrigan?
Early Life and Learning
Charlie Carrigan was born in a place called Denny, in Scotland. His parents were from Ireland. He learned to be a tailor, which means he made clothes. Even though he worked as a tailor, he also went to classes to study history and literature. He was very good at speaking French and Latin. He also learned Irish and was part of a group called Conradh na Gaeilge (the Gaelic League), which worked to promote the Irish language.
Working for Irish Freedom
Charlie Carrigan became very involved in politics when he was young. In 1898, he became the leader of the local group of the United Irish League in Denny. Later, he joined another important group called the Irish Republican Brotherhood. In 1905, he became the chairman of the very first group of Sinn Féin in Scotland. This group was called the Éire Óg Craobh Cumann. All these groups worked towards Ireland becoming an independent nation.
The Easter Rising of 1916
In 1915, Charlie Carrigan joined the Irish Volunteers. This was after a part of the group split off from the National Volunteers. In January 1916, Charlie and other members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood from Glasgow traveled to Dublin. Members of other groups, like Fianna Éireann and Cumann na mBan, also went with them. They formed the Scottish Division of the Irish Volunteers. They stayed at the home of Count Plunkett in Kimmage, County Dublin. There, they got ready for a major event: a plan to fight for Ireland's independence from British rule.
A Sad Day
On Easter Monday, April 24, 1916, the groups from outside Ireland, including the Scottish Division and the Hibernian Rifles from North America, took part in the Easter Rising. During the fighting, as people were leaving the General Post Office (GPO), Charlie Carrigan was sadly killed by British soldiers on Moore Street. He was buried in St Paul's Cemetery in Glasnevin.
