Liam's Irish Traditional Music - Irelands culture and tradition

Some republicans decided that the war gave them an opportunity for, "direct action" in the tradition of the IRB, or in the cause of socialism they decided on a separate plan, which was to be a republican uprising. The action of the Irish in 1916 was to serve as an inspiration to other countries in their struggle for independence from Britain. A small group of republicans and socialists planned in uprising in Dublin, which was to take place on Bank Holiday Monday. Ireland was to be proclaimed a republic, Poblacht na hEireann, and a handout was printed.

The republicans took seven key sites in Dublin. The Post Office in Sackville Street was their headquarters. The British were taken by surprise, and had to move troops very quickly. On Tuesday, they sent for reinforcements, and by Wednesday these extra soldiers had arrived. The British troops were to place a cordon round the centre of Dublin and move in, fighting street by street until the rebel strongholds had been taken. By Wednesday, the British troops were in position. There were a thousand republicans in all, and the British troops outnumbered them by twenty to one.

On Wednesday the worst part of the fighting took place. The people of Dublin were not sure whether they should feel sympathy for the bravery of the republicans or hatred for those who had caused their city to be stormed, and burned.

The British continued to tighten their cordon. Rebel strongholds were pounded by artillery and the army started fires so that barricades in the streets would be destroyed. The city of Dublin began to burn.

The leaders of the uprising had known that they would be defeated. They expected to lose their lives either as they defended their strongholds, or when the British captured them. Some now saw the necessity of surrender. Most wished to fight on. The decision to surrender was taken.