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Easter Rising
Éirí Amach na Cásca

Part of the Irish revolutionary period

O'Connell Street, Dublin, after the Rising. The GPO is at left, and Nelson's Pillar at right.

Date

24–29 April 1916

Location

Mostly Dublin; skirmishes in counties Meath, Galway, Louth, Wexford, Cork

Result

Uprising suppressed

Unconditional surrender of rebel forces
Execution of most leaders

Belligerents

Irish rebel forces:
- Irish Volunteers
- Irish Republican Brotherhood
- Irish Citizen Army
- Fianna Éireann
- Cumann na mBan
- Hibernian Rifles

British forces:
- British Army
- Royal Irish Constabulary

Commanders and leaders

Strength

1,250 in Dublin
c. 2,000–3,000 Volunteers elsewhere but they took little part in the fighting

16,000 British troops and 1,000 armed RIC in Dublin by the end of the week

Casualties and losses

82 killed
16 executed
Unknown wounded

143 killed
397 wounded

260 civilians killed
2,200+ civilians wounded (including unknown number of rebels)
Total killed: 485

The Easter Rising (Irish: Éirí Amach na Cásca), also known as the Easter Rebellion, was a rebellion that took place in Dublin, the capital city of Ireland, in 1916. It was a group of Irish republicans (people who wanted Ireland to be a republic, meaning a country ruled by elected leaders, not a king or queen) who decided to take a stand and declare Ireland independent.

It was the most significant uprising in Ireland since the rebellion of 1798 and the first armed conflict of the Irish revolutionary period. Sixteen of the Rising's leaders were executed starting in May 1916. The nature of the executions, and subsequent political developments, ultimately contributed to an increase in popular support for Irish independence.

Members of the Irish Citizen Army outside Liberty Hall, under the slogan "We serve neither King nor Kaiser, but Ireland"

When did it happen?
Who was involved?
- Key Leaders
Why did they do it?
What happened during the rising?
The Proclamation of Irish Independence
How did it end?
What happened after?
Impact
Important facts and figures
Images for kids
See also

When did it happen?

The Rising began on Easter Monday, April 24, 1916, and lasted for six days, until April 29, 1916. Easter is a special holiday for Christians, and the rebels chose this time hoping it would have a big impact.

Who was involved?

Several groups of Irish republicans joined together to plan and carry out the Easter Rising. Here are some of the main groups and people involved:

The Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB): This was a secret organization that wanted to overthrow British rule and establish an Irish republic.
The Irish Volunteers: This was a military organization formed to defend Ireland and fight for its independence.
The Irish Citizen Army: This group was formed by trade unionists to protect workers' rights and fight for a socialist republic (a country where the government controls the economy and resources).

Key Leaders

Some of the most important leaders of the Easter Rising were:

Patrick Pearse: A teacher, poet, and one of the main leaders of the IRB. He read the Proclamation of Irish Independence, declaring Ireland a free country.
James Connolly: A socialist leader and commander of the Irish Citizen Army. He believed in fighting for both Irish independence and workers' rights.
Thomas Clarke: A veteran republican who had been involved in earlier attempts to gain Irish independence.
Seán Mac Diarmada: A key organizer for the IRB.
Éamonn Ceannt: A member of the IRB's military committee.
Thomas MacDonagh: A poet and playwright who joined the rebellion.
Joseph Plunkett: A poet and strategist who helped plan the Rising.

Why did they do it?

The people who took part in the Easter Rising had several reasons for wanting to rebel against British rule:

Desire for Independence: They believed that Ireland had the right to govern itself and be free from British control.
Frustration with British Rule: They felt that the British government didn't understand or care about the needs of the Irish people.
Inspired by Irish History: They looked back to Ireland's past and the many times Irish people had fought for their freedom.
Influence of Irish Culture: A revival of interest in Irish language, literature, and culture inspired a sense of national pride and a desire for independence.

What happened during the rising?

On Easter Monday, the rebels, numbering around 1,600, seized several important buildings in Dublin. These included:

The General Post Office (GPO): This became the headquarters of the rebellion. Patrick Pearse read the Proclamation of Irish Independence from the steps of the GPO.
The Four Courts: A large complex of law courts.
Boland's Mill: A strategic location that controlled access to the city.
St. Stephen's Green: A park in the city center.

The rebels held these buildings and fought against the British army, who were much better equipped and had many more soldiers. The fighting was intense, and many people were killed or injured on both sides.

The Proclamation of Irish Independence

One of the most important things that happened during the Easter Rising was the reading of the Proclamation of Irish Independence. This document declared that Ireland was now a free and independent republic. It stated that all citizens of Ireland were equal and guaranteed religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens. The Proclamation was signed by the seven leaders of the Rising and posted on the walls of the GPO.

How did it end?

After six days of fighting, the rebels were forced to surrender. The British army had surrounded them and were using heavy artillery to bombard the buildings they were holding. The leaders of the Rising knew that they couldn't win, and they wanted to prevent further loss of life.

What happened after?

After the surrender, the British government arrested thousands of people suspected of being involved in the Rising. The leaders of the Rising were court-martialed (tried in a military court) and sentenced to death.

Between May 3 and May 12, 1916, fifteen of the leaders were executed by firing squad. These executions caused great anger and resentment among the Irish people. Many people who had not supported the Rising before now began to see the leaders as heroes and martyrs (people who die for their beliefs). The Easter Rising was a major reason for the creation of the Irish Republic and the Irish War of Independence.

Impact

Even though the Easter Rising was a military failure, it had a huge impact on Irish history. It helped to unite the Irish people behind the cause of independence and led to the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921), which eventually resulted in Ireland gaining its freedom from British rule.

The Easter Rising is remembered today as a brave and important event in the story of Ireland's fight for freedom. The leaders of the Rising are honored as heroes who sacrificed their lives for their country.

Important facts and figures

Date: April 24-29, 1916
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Participants: Irish republicans (Irish Volunteers, Irish Citizen Army, IRB) vs. British Army
Number of Rebels: Approximately 1,600
Number of British Soldiers: Approximately 20,000
Casualties:
- Rebels: Approximately 83 killed
- British Army: Approximately 130 killed
- Civilians: Approximately 254 killed
- Leaders Executed: 15
Key Buildings Seized: General Post Office (GPO), Four Courts, Boland's Mill, St. Stephen's Green

Images for kids

Proclamation of the Republic, Easter 1916
The General Post Office in Dublin – the rebel headquarters
Positions of rebel and British forces in central Dublin
A street barricade erected by the rebels in Dublin during the Rising
British armoured truck, hastily built from the smokeboxes of several steam locomotives at Inchicore railway works
British soldiers in position behind a stack of barrels during the Rising in Dublin
Birth of the Irish Republic by Walter Paget, depicting the GPO during the shelling
British soldiers marching rebel prisoners away after the surrender
Irish War News, produced by the rebels during the Rising
Enniscorthy in the 1890s
Memorial in Deansgrange Cemetery, where various civilians and members of the Irish Volunteer Army, Irish Citizen Army and British Army are buried
Ruins of the Metropole Hotel on Sackville Street, next to the GPO
The spot at Kilmainham Gaol where most of the leaders were executed
The burial spot of the leaders of the Rising, in the old prison yard of Arbour Hill Prison. The Proclamation of 1916 is inscribed on the wall in both Irish and English
British soldiers searching the River Tolka in Dublin for arms and ammunition after the Easter Rising. May 1916
View of O'Connell Bridge, 1916, on a German postcard. The caption reads: Rising of the Sinn Feiners in Ireland. O'Connell bridge with Dublin city, where the fiercest clashes took place.
Commemoration of Connolly's execution, 12 May 1917
Crowds in Dublin waiting to welcome republican prisoners released in 1917
Document from the 1940s which lists the deceased members of the Stephen's Green garrison
Plaque commemorating the Easter Rising at the General Post Office, Dublin, with the Irish text in Gaelic script, and the English text in regular Latin script
Memorial in Cobh, County Cork, to the Volunteers from that town
Mural in Belfast depicting the Easter Rising of 1916
Memorial in Clonmacnoise commemorating men of County Offaly (then King's County) who fought in 1916: James Kenny, Kieran Kenny and Paddy McDonnell are named
Flag and copy of the Proclamation in Clonegal