Army of the Irish Republic, Easter 1916

This is an order-of-battle for all the Irish republican forces which came out for the Easter Rising of 1916 all across the island, whether or not they faced hard combat.  It includes all of them, the Irish Volunteers, the Irish Citizen Army, the Cumann na mBan, the Hibernian Rifles, the Fianna Eireann, the Clan na Gael Girl Guides, and the Irish Citizen Scouts.

HQ Staff, Irish Volunteers, October 1914

Organized thus in the aftermath of the split with from the Redmondites.  The parent organization of both, the “Irish National Volunteer Force”, was founded in 1913 as a reaction to Carson’s Ulster Volunteer Force in the North.  The Irish Parliamentary Party leader John Redmond began using it for his personal political agenda.  With the outbreak of the war, Redmond and his “National Volunteers” supported the British effort on the Continent, to the point enlisiting in nad recruiting for the British Army, and wanted to settle for Home Rule while those who founded the “Irish Volunteers” wanted independence and nothing to do with England’s colonial wars.

Everyone on this list was also a member of the IRB (MacNeill and DeValera only nominally).  With the exception of MacNeill, Hobson, and O’Connell, the members performed these same functions listed here during the Rising in addition to their other duties.

Eoin MacNeill, Chief of Staff

Padraig Pearse, Director of Military Organization

Joseph Plunkett, Director of Military Operations

Thomas MacDonagh, Director of Training

Michael O’Rahilly, Director of Arms

Bulmer Hobson, Quartermaster General

Eamonn Ceannt, Director of Communications

J.J. “Ginger” O’Connell, Chief of Inspection

Edward Daly, OC, 1st Battalion, Dublin Brigade

Thomas MacDonough, Commandant, Dublin Brigade, OC, 2nd Battalion

Eamon de Valera, OC, 3rd Battalion, Dublin Brigade

Eamonn Ceannt, OC, 4th Battalion, Dublin Brigade

Military Committee, Irish Republican Brotherhood, 1916

The men who planned the Easter Rising and formed the Provisional Government, of which Padraig Pearse was the President.  Perhaps stress should be placed on Provisional in the case of Pearse's presidency, since the constitution of the IRB, of which all of these men were members, provided that when the Irish Republic was established, its own president would be President of the Irish Republic, in which case that would be Tom Clarke.  The names are in the order of which they signed the Proclamation of the Irish Republic on Easter 1916.

Thomas Clarke

Sean MacDermott

Padraig Pearse

Joseph Plunkett

Thomas MacDonagh

Eamonn Ceannt

James Connolly

Active forces, Army of the Irish Republic, Easter Week 1916

Organized by the merger, temporary and superficial as it turned out, of the Irish Volunteer Force (IVF), the Irish Citizen Army (ICA), the Cumann na mBan (CMD), the Fianna Eireann (NFE),  and the Hibernian Rifles (HR) under one umbrella specifically for the Rising. 

Because of the confusion over O’Neill’s cancellation notice on Easter Sunday followed by his subsequent countermanding of that order, many IVF units did not come out.  The ones that did and their commandants are listed here.

CITY OF DUBLIN

The major center of fighting, and often the only action considered in accounts of the Rising.  The Rising in Dublin began with a march at noon Easter Monday, and ended Saturday afternoon with the delivery of Commander-in-Chief’s Pearse’s unconditional surrender to the British forces by Cumman na mBan member Elizabeth O’Farrell from GHQ.  The other garrisons around the city held out until O’Farrell herself had visited each with Pearse’s order to cease fire and stand down.

GHQ Staff

Padraig Pearse, Commander-in-Chief, Army of the Irish Republic

James Connolly, 1st Commandant-General, Commandant, Dublin Division, and Commandant, GHQ, Army of the Irish Republic

            Winifred Carney, Aide-de-Camp

Sean McLoughlin, 2nd Commandant-General (after Connolly was wounded)

Joseph Plunkett, Commandant-General

            Michael Collins, Aide-de-Camp

William Pearse, Acting Chief-of-Staff

Michael O’Hanrahan, Quartermaster General

Dublin Brigade, IVF

            Thomas MacDonough, Commandant

            Eamon de Valera, Adjutant

            Michael Staines, Quartermaster

First Battalion, Dublin Brigade, IVF

            Edward (Ned) Daly, Commandant

            Pearse Beaslai, Adjutant

            Company A:  Denis O’Callaghan, acting Captain

            Company B:  Tom Byrne, Captain

            Company C:  Frank Fahy, Captain

            Company D:  Sean Heuston, Captain

            Company F:  Fionan Lynch, Captain

            Company G:  Nicolas Laffan, acting Captain

Second Battalion, Dublin Brigade, IVF

            Thomas Hunter, Acting Commandant

            Michael O’Hanrahan, Vice-Commandant

            John MacBride, Adjutant

            Company B:  Paddy Daly, Captain

            Company C:  Eamon Price, Captain

            Company D:  Patrick Moran, Captain

            Company E:  Thomas Weafer, Captain

            Company F:  Frank Henderson, Captain

Third Battalion, Dublin Brigade, IVF

            Eamon de Valera, Commandant

            Joseph O’Connor, Vice-Commandant

            Company A:  Joseph O’Connor, Captain

            Company B:  Sean MacMahon, Captain

            Company C:  Simon Donnelly, Captain

            Company D:  Joseph O’Byrne, Acting Captain

            Company E:  Liam Tannam, Captain

Fourth Battalion, Dublin Brigade, IVF

            Eamonn Ceannt, Commandant

            Cathal Brugha, Vice-Commandant

            Company A:  Seamus Murphy, Captain

            Company B:  Thomas McCarthy, Captain

            Company C:  Thomas McCarthy, Captain

            Company D:  French Mullen, Captain

            Company E:  Padraig Pearse, honorary Captain

                        Michael Boland, 1st Lt. in charge

            Company F:  Con Colbert, Captain

Kimmage Garrison, Dublin Brigade, IVF (GPO)

            George Plunkett, Captain

            OTR Section

            Scottish Section

            English Section

Cumann na mBan, Dublin Brigade

            Jennie Wyse Power, Commandant

            Inghinidhe Branch:  Eileen Walsh, Commandant

                        Rose McNamara, Vice-Commandant

            Central Branch Branch:  Kathleen Clarke, Commandant

            Fairview Branch:  Molly Reynolds, Commandant

            Colmcille Branch:  Sarah Neary, Commandant

            GPO detachment:  Elizabeth O’Farrell, OC

            Jameson’s Distillery CMB detachment:  Rose McNamara, OC

            Jacob’s Factory CMB detachment:  Mary Elizabeth Walker, OC

(Out of at least 90 women—some say more than 200—who served during the week, 60 were CMB Volunteers, half from the Inghidhe Branch, the only one to turn out intact.)

Fianna Eireann, Dublin Battalion

            Eamonn Martin, Captain

            Company No. 1:  Philip Cassidy, Lieutenant

            Company No. 2:  Barney Mellows, Lieutenant

            Company No. 3:  Ernie Murray, Lieutenant

            Company No. 4:  Niall MacNeill, Lieutenant

            Company No. 5:  Garry Holohan, Lieutenant

            Company No. 6:  Sean Heuston, Lieutenant

            Company No. 7:  Sean McLoughlin, Lieutenant

            Company No. 8:  Leo Henderson, Lieutenant

            Company No. 9:  Padraig O’Dalaigh, Lieutenant

            Fianna Commando:  Sean McLoughlin, Lieutenant

Clan na Gael Girl Guides

            May Kelly, Captain

Irish Citizen Army

            Michael Mallin, Commandant

            Constance Markievicz, Lieutenant-Commandant

            Christopher (Kit) Poole, Captain, Adjutant

            Kathleen Lynn, Captain, Chief Medical Officer

            Jim O’Neill, Captain, Quartermaster

            Seamus McGowan, Sergeant, Assistant Quartermaster

            Section Commanders:

                        Dick McCormack, Captain

                        Jim O’Neill, Captain

                        Sean Connolly, Captain

                        William Partridge, Captain

                        Mick Kelly, Lieutenant

                        Martin Kelly, Lieutenant

                        Peter Jackson, Lieutenant

                        Joseph Doyle, Sergeant

                        James Kelly, Sergeant

                        Thomas O’Donohoe, Sergeant

                        Frank Robbins, Sergeant

                        Madelaine Ffrench-Mullen, Sergeant

Irish Citizen Scouts

            Walter Carpenter, Captain

            Charlie O’Darcy, 1st Lieutenant

            Paddy Carroll, 2nd Lieutenant

Hibernian Rifles (GPO)

            John J. Scollan, Commandant

            J. J. Walsh, Vice-Commandant

            Company No. 1:  Thomas Breslin, Captain

            Company No. 2:  J. Garret, Captain

            Company No. 3:  Sean Millroy, Captain

Dublin City Major Garrisons

General Post Office Garrison (GHQ)

James Connolly, OC

Boland’s Mills Garrison

Edmund De Valera, OC

Cabra Bridge Garrison

Jim O’Sullivan, OC

City Hall Garrison

Sean Connolly, 1st OC

John Reilly, 2nd OC

Elizabeth Lynn, 3rd OC

Four Courts Garrison

Ned Daly, OC

Jacob’s Factory Garrison

Thomas MacDonagh, OC

Watkins’ Brewery Garrison

Con Colbert, OC

Jameson’s Distillery Garrison

Seamus Murphy, OC

Mendicity Institute Garrison

Sean Heuston, OC

Roe’s Distillery Garrison

Thomas McCarthy, OC

Saint Stephen’s Green Garrison

Mike Mallin, OC

South Dublin Union Garrison

Eamonn Ceantt, OC

Clanwilliam House

Michael Malone, OC

FINGAL, CO. DUBLIN and ASHBOURNE, CO. MEATH

Rather than traditional infantry war which they knew would be doomed to failure, Ashe and Mulcahy adopted the guerrilla tactics and organization (in the latter case, switching to “sections” instead of “companies”) which were successful in the War of Independence, leading to the capture of Royal Irish Constabulary posts at Swords, Donabate, Garristown, and Ashbourne (Co. Meath), the last being the only large-scale battle fought outside Dublin.   Their actions were largely in support of the Dublin Brigade to block reinforcements from the north.  Until the surrender Saturday, they were undefeated.

Fifth (Fingal) Battalion, Dublin Brigade, IVF (North Co. Dublin)

            Thomas Ashe, Commandant

            Richard Mulcahy, Vice-Commandant and Adjutant

            Section No. 1:  Charlie Weston, Captain

            Section No. 2:  Edward (Ned) Rooney, Captain

            Section No. 3:  Jim Lawless, Captain

            Section No. 4:  Joe Lawless, Captain

Fingal Branch, CMB

            Molly Adrian, Commandant

(At least 20 CMB volunteers did mobile service with the 5th Battlation)

COUNTY LOUTH and COUNTY MEATH

Intended as a blocking force, the Dundalk Volunteers were supposed to rendevous with other units in the area at Tara on Easter Monday, but received word after they arrived that the Rising was called off.  Upon learning it was back on Tuesday, the Volunteers re-formed and proceeded south, hoping to eventually link up with the Fingal Battalion.  At Castlebellingham, they encountered a force of RIC men, resulting in a skirmish that resulted in one RIC man dead and several injured with 15 taken prisoner.

After linking up with Dunboyne Company in Co. Meath, the column continued into North Co. Dublin, where they halted at Tyrellstown House near Mulhuddart.  From there, they dispatched men to contact the Fingal Brigade and the forces in Dublin.  By the time they were able to contact either, the Rising was over.  Still, they remained “out” until Easter Wednesday.

Dundalk Battalion, IVF

            Paddy Hughes, Commandant

            James Toal, Vice-Commandant

            Donal Hannigan, Adjutant

            Company A:  Paddy Duffy

            Company B:  James Toal, Captain

            Company C:  Joseph Berrill, Captain

            Company D.  Sean McEntee, Captain

Dunboyne Company, IVF

            Sean Boylan, Captain

Other officers in Dundalk Battalion included:  Felix McQuillan, Frank Necy, Thomas Hearty, Hugh Kearney, and Peadar Murphy.

ENNISCORTHY, CO. WEXFORD

On Thursday morning, forces of the Wexford Brigade (IVF), primarily from the Enniscorthy Battalion, seized the town of Enniscorthy to cut the rail and block reinforcements.  Setting up headquarters in the Athenaeum in the center of town, they sabotaged tracks, a bridge, and communications lines to Dublin.  They also occupied Vinegar Hill, one of the major sites of the Rising of 1798 by the United Irishmen.  On Saturday day, they captured the town of Ferns.  The forces in Wexford and Ferns, up to one thousand strong, only surrendered Low Sunday afternoon after receiving confirmation of Pearse’s order.

Wexford Brigade, IVF

            Robert Brennan, Acting Commandant

            Paul Galligan, Vice-Commandant

            Seamus Rafter, Brigade Adjutant

Enniscorthy Battalion

            Seamus Doyle, Commandant

            Enniscorthy (A) Company:  James Cullen, Captain

            Shannon (B) Company:  Alex Doyle, Captain

            Gorey (C) Company:  Sean Etchingham, Captain

            Ferns Company:  Patrick Ronan, acting Captain

            New Ross Company:  Sean Kennedy, Captain

Enniscorthy Garrison

            Seamus Rafter, OC

            Michael de Lacy, Civil Minister

Ferns Garrison

            Paul Galligan, OC

Enniscorthy Branch, CMB

            Mary White, Commandant

(Up to 90 CMB volunteers did service during the week)

Enniscorthy Sluagh, NFE

            Michael Kehoe, Captain

ATHENRY, CO. GALWAY

Though small parties mustered earlier in the week, most demobilized when no orders came, and the major rising in Co. Galway began on Tuesday.  Between 700 and 1,000 volunteers answered calls to muster on Tuesday, but armed with only 25 long arms, 60 pistols, several homemade grenades, and pikes (yes, pikes).  Volunteers attacked RIC barracks at Killeeneen, Oranmore, and Clarinbridge.  Attacks against the barracks at Ardrahan and Peterswell did not take place because those had been abandoned.  There was a skirmish with RIC constables at Carnmore crossroads (1 constable dead, several prisoner), after which the Volunteers occupied the town of Athenry, with the Agricultural School, known locally as the “Farmyard”, as their headquarters.

On Wednesday, the HMS Laburnum shelled the county from Loch Lurgan (Galway Bay), and the Volunteers moved to nearby Moyode Castle.  Patrols had to contend with counter patrols by RIC accompanied by Special Constables who were mostly from the Redmondite National Volunteer Force (NVF).  On Friday, after the HMS Gloucester shelled the area near the rebels and landed 200 Royal Marines, the Republican forces shifted to Limepark House and its grounds, finally dispersing early Saturday morning.

The units below are those mentioned as coming out by at least one or two sources.  Some fifty members of Cumann na mBan also mustered and did active service.  Of particular note is the Caughwell Company of the NVF, the only unit of the Redmondite NVF in the country to come out in support of the Rising.

The Galway Brigade had only recently been divided into battalions, of which there were five (Athenry or Mid Galway; Loughrea or East Galway; Gort or South Galway; Galway or West Galway; Tuam or North Galway), so the companies which were out operated directly under the brigade command.

Western Division, IVF

            Liam Mellows, Commandant

Galway Brigade, IVF

            Larry Lardner, Commandant

            Eamonn Corbett, Vice-Commandant

            Alf Monaghan, Vice-Commandant

            Mattie Niland, Adjutant

            Sean Broderick, Quartermaster

            Athenry Company:  Frank Hynes, Captain

            Rockfield Company:  Gilbert Morrisey, Captain

            Clarenbridge Company:  Eamon Corbett, Captain

            Oranmore Company:  Martin Costello, Captain

            Maree Company:  Michael Athy, Captain

            Castlegar Company:  Brian Molloy, Captain

            Kilcolgan Company, Martin Niland, Captain

            Kinvara Company:  John Burke, Captain

            Kilcolgan Company, Martin Niland, Captain

            Ardradan Company:  Peter Howley, Captain

            Kilconieron Company:  John Hannify, Captain

            Claregalway Company:  Tom Ruane, Captain

            Newcastle Company

            Kilcronin Company

            Killtullagh Company

            Kilmoredaly Company

            Cussaun Company

            Derrydonnell Company

            Cregmore Company

            Killeeneen Company

            Kiltartan Company

            Ballindereen Company

Craughwell Company, NVF

(The only unit of the National Volunteers to come out in support of the Rising)

Galway Branch, CMB

            Julia Mary Morrisey, Commandant

(Some 50 members reportedly came out during the week.)

CORK CITY, CO. CORK

In Cork City, and other battlions in the brigade area, the confusion in the conflicting orders on Easter Sunday left Commandant MacCurtain unsure of how to proceed.  On Easter Monday, MacCurtain, MacSwiney, O’Sullivan, and a large contingent of Volunteers set about fortifying Volunteer Hall and setting lookouts at bridges and military barracks.  Though there was no actual fighting due to the intervention of Lord Mayor Butterfield and Bishop Cohalan, the Volunteers lived under a state of siege until Monday after Low Sunday, when they surrendered their arms to the military and stood down.

Cork Brigade, IVF: 

            Tomas MacCurtain, Commandant

            Thomas MacSwiney, Vice-Commandant

Cork City Battalion, Cork Brigade, IVF

            Sean O’Sullivan, Commandant

            Sean Murphy, Vice-Commandant

            Company A:  Sean Scanlan, Captain

            Company B:  Donald Barret, Captain

            Company C:  Patrick Cotter, Captain

            Company D:  Christopher O’Gorman, Captain

            Cobh Company:  Michael Leahy, Captain

            Dungourney Company:  Maurice Ahern, Captain

Cork Branch, CMB

            Mary McSwiney, Commandant