Sean Connolly ( ga, Seán Ó Congaile) was an

Irish republican Irish republicanism ( ga, poblachtánachas Éireannach) is the political movement for the unity and independence of Ireland under a republic. Irish republicans view British rule in any part of Ireland as inherently illegitimate. The develop ...

, socialist and

Abbey Theatre The Abbey Theatre ( ga, Amharclann na Mainistreach), also known as the National Theatre of Ireland ( ga, Amharclann Náisiúnta na hÉireann), in Dublin, Ireland, is one of the country's leading cultural institutions. First opening to the pu ...

actor who took part in the

Easter Rising The Easter Rising ( ga, Éirí Amach na Cásca), also known as the Easter Rebellion, was an armed insurrection in Ireland during Easter Week in April 1916. The Rising was launched by Irish republicans against British rule in Ireland with the a ...

. He was a captain in the

Irish Citizen Army The Irish Citizen Army (), or ICA, was a small paramilitary group of trained trade union volunteers from the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union (ITGWU) established in Dublin for the defence of workers' demonstrations from the Dublin M ...

and was the first rebel to be killed during the Rising.

Early life and family

Connolly was born in Sandymount, Dublin in 1882. His father Michael led the Fenians to the battleground at Tallaght during the

Fenian Rising The Fenian Rising of 1867 ( ga, Éirí Amach na bhFíníní, 1867, ) was a rebellion against British rule in Ireland, organised by the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). After the suppression of the ''Irish People'' newspaper in September 186 ...

in 1867, at the age of 11. He was also involved in the

ITGWU The Irish Transport and General Workers Union (ITGWU), was a trade union representing workers, initially mainly labourers, in Ireland. History The union was founded by James Larkin in January 1909 as a general union. Initially drawing its memb ...

. He attended St. Joseph's Secondary C.B.S. in Fairview.

Easter Rising

On Easter Monday morning when the ICA was about to march towards their positions from Liberty Hall and start the Rising

James Connolly James Connolly ( ga, Séamas Ó Conghaile; 5 June 1868 – 12 May 1916) was an Irish republican, socialist and trade union leader. Born to Irish parents in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, Scotland, Connolly left school for working life at the a ...

approached Connolly, told him how much time he had to get to Dublin Castle, shook his hand and said "Good luck Sean! We won't meet again". At 11:45 am that same day he led a group of ICA members including his brother Matthew and his sister Kate towards

Dublin Castle Dublin Castle ( ga, Caisleán Bhaile Átha Cliath) is a former Motte-and-bailey castle and current Irish government complex and conference centre. It was chosen for its position at the highest point of central Dublin. Until 1922 it was the se ...

. At the main gate of the castle DMP officer James O'Brien, who was attempting to close the gate, was shot dead. Accounts vary as to whether Sean Connolly or another fighter shot him. They then tied up six sentries in the castle guard room. British Army major AJ Price, who had heard shots fired, ran out to the castle courtyard and fired at Connolly and the other ICA members before retreating. Connolly and those under his command retreated to

City Hall In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...

. Within an hour of the retreat he was shot dead on the roof of City Hall by a British sniper. Dr

Kathleen Lynn Kathleen Florence Lynn (28 January 1874 – 14 September 1955) was an Irish Sinn Féin politician, activist and medical doctor. Lynn was so greatly affected by the poverty and disease among the poor in the west of Ireland that, at 16, she decid ...

describes the event:

We noticed Sean Connolly coming towards us, walking upright, although we had been advised to crouch and take cover as much as possible. We suddenly saw him fall mortally wounded by a sniper's bullet from the castle. First aid was useless. He died almost immediately.

Helena Molony Helena Mary Molony (15 January 1883 – 29 January 1967) was a prominent Irish republican, feminist and labour activist. She fought in the 1916 Easter Rising and later became the second woman president of the Irish Trades Union Congress. Early ...

, who also witnessed his death, recalled that his younger brother Matt, who was fifteen at the time, was on the City Hall roof and "cried bitterly" over his death. After he was shot, Molony said a prayer into his ear. According to Matthew's own witness statement, he saw his brother wounded, and later, finding himself alone,

There were snow boards along the valley gutters, between the sloping sections of the roof, and these I traversed, in an effort to find out where my comrades had gone, but without success, until I came across the body of my brother, Seán. I knelt to say a prayer for his departed soul.

Personal life

As well as a revolutionary, Connolly was an actor in the

. His last part was the lead in ''Under Which Flag'' by

. He and his wife, Christina, had three children, Margaret, Kevin and Aidan. Christina Connolly was active during the

War of Independence This is a list of wars of independence (also called liberation wars). These wars may or may not have been successful in achieving a goal of independence. List See also * Lists of active separatist movements * List of civil wars * List of o ...

; during the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

she took the Treaty side.

Commemoration

In 2016 a commemoration for Constable James O'Brien took place at

. Freya Connolly, great-granddaughter of Sean Connolly, placed flowers on behalf of the Connolly family. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising,

An Post (; literally 'The Post') is the state-owned provider of postal services in Ireland. An Post provides a "universal postal service" to all parts of the country as a member of the Universal Postal Union. Services provided include letter post, p ...

, the Irish postal service, released stamps of figures associated with the Rising. Sean Connolly and Constable James O'Brien appeared on a stamp together.http://www.anpostmedia.com/Media/1916_Stamps/1916_SOAR_STAMP5_OBrien_Connolly.jpg Connolly was 32 when he died. He was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Connolly, Sean People of the Easter Rising Irish socialists Irish trade unionists Irish Citizen Army members 1882 births 1916 deaths People from Sandymount People educated at St. Joseph's CBS, Fairview