Patrick H.

Pearse
By Sorin Nechifor and Kacper Kaleta.

Patrick Pearse's Life

Patrick Pearse was born in Dublin, on November 10, 1879 to an English
father and an Irish mother.
Patrick became interested in Ireland and its Irish history early in life.
He joined the Gaelic League, a group founded to preserve the Irish
language, at age 21.
Pdraic Pearse entered the Gaelic League a young boy looking to
explore his Irish history.
The purpose of the league was to promote Irish tradition and language
and it was very much part of the revival of Gaelic consciousness that
took place at the turn of the century. Pearse was an enthusiastic
member and became editor of the leagues newspaper: An Claidheamh
Solais ('The Sword of Light').

Patrick Pearse's Life

He tried numerous ways to defeat the British intellectually.
He used knowledge, not force, in attempts to liberate
Ireland. Some of Pearse's tactics included publishing old
Irish tales from ancient manuscripts and also publishing his
own works in Irish rather than English.
In 1908, Pearse founded St. Edna's College near Dublin. St
Edna's structured its curriculum around Irish traditions and
culture. Moreover, the college taught both the Irish and
English languages.

Padraig Pearse's Poems, Plays and Short

Stories
Poems:
A Rann I Made
To a Beloved Child
I have not garnered gold
I am Ireland
Renunciation
The Rann of the Little Playmate
A Song for Mary Magdalene
Christ's Coming
On the Strand of Howth
The Dord Feinne
The Mother
The Fool
The Rebel
Christmas 1915
The Wayfarer
Lullaby of a Woman of the Mountain
O Little Bird
Why do ye torture me?
Little Lad of the Tricks
O Lovely Head
Long to me Thy coming
A Woman of the Mountain keens her Son

Plays
The Singer
The King
The Master
Iosagan

Stories
The Dearg-daol
Barbara
Brigid of the Songs
Irish original (Brighid na nAmhrn) also available
The Mother
The Thief
Irish original (An Gada) also available
The Keening Woman
Iosagan
Irish original (osagn) also available
Eoineen of the Birds
Irish original (Eoghainn na nan) also available
The Roads
Irish original (Na Bithre) also available
The Priest

Patrick Pearse's Life

In July 1914, Pearse was involved in the smuggling of
weapons and ammunition through Howth in Co. Dublin. These
were stored at St. Endas school. The organisation now had
the weapons and the financial support it needed to take
military action. Pearse wrote there were many things more
horrible than bloodshed and slavery is one of them.
In 1915 he joined the IRB. He was co-opted onto their
Supreme Council and the Secret Military Council. Pearses
graveside oration at ODonovanRossas (fenian) funeral in
1915, ended with the much quoted words, Ireland unfree
shall never be at peace, and was influential in the build up to
the Easter Rising.

Rising
During Easter week Pearse served at the rebellion headquarters,
the General Post Office (GPO), Dublin. He along with six other
signatories signed the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, which
he as Chairman of the Provisional Government read to the public
on the 24 April, 1916. This signalled the beginning of the Easter
Rising. Lacking any military experience, Pearse attempted to
defend the heart of Dublin not only from British reinforcements
but also from its own slum dwellers, who began to loot the highclass shops of Sackville Street (now OConnell St.).
As fire swept through the GPO on the 28 April, he helped
organise its evacuation. As a consequence of the fighting
between the rebels and the British army about 250 uninvolved
civilians were killed.

Rising
At noon the next day, he accepted the majority view of the
leadership that they would have to negotiate with the British
troops to prevent further slaughter of civilians and save the
lives of their followers. At 3.30pm on 29 April 1916 he
surrendered unconditionally on behalf of the Volunteers to
Brigadier-General W. H. M. Lowe in Parnell Street.
Pearse was only thirty-six years old when he was sentenced to
death. He was executed by firing squad in Kilmainham Jail on
the 3 May 1916. Fourteen other prominent members of the
Rising were also executed including his brother William, who
was shot the day after. Pearse was buried in quick lime at
Arbour Hill. During his short life, he translated much Irish
poetry and wrote plays, poetry and short stories.

His uncompromising words have been much quoted by

generations of republican followers.