Easter Dawn was one of the most successful books to arise over the course of the centenary commemorations of the Easter Rising, with positive reviews in newspapers such as the Irish Times and the Irish Independent, as well as magazines such as Socialist History. Easons’ bookshop placed it in their top five ‘1916’ bestsellers of the year. Turtle helped to promote the book through a series of talks nationwide with the ‘Paths to Freedom’ roadshow, as well as a major talk in Chicago on 30 June 2016.
In the long and epic fight for Irish independence, few events match the drama and tragedy of the Easter Rising of 1916. Bonded by a mutual dream of an independent Ireland, an extraordinary alliance of men and women sought to overthrow the British authorities who had ruled the island for centuries past.
‘Easter Dawn’ charts the story of the 1916 Rising, from the landing of the guns at Howth for the Irish Volunteers in 1914 to the arrests and executions that followed it. The battlegrounds that erupted across Dublin city and elsewhere in Ireland form the stage upon which a remarkable cast assembled.
Intricately researched and emotively written, the narrative, which includes the stories of the personalities involved in separate vignettes, is woven around contemporary photographs, many rare and unseen, providing a fresh look at the people and places involved. This book, which includes a strong American perspective, offers an excellent insight for anyone seeking an accessible, impartial and vivid account of that immense week.
‘Easter Dawn’ was published in Ireland by Mercier in 2015. The US edition of this book was called ‘The 1916 Rising – The Photographic Record’ and was published by Rowman & Littlefield.
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Contents
An Introduction to the 1916 Rising
THE ORGANS OF REVOLUTION
THE CULTURAL ORGANISATIONS
Joe Garrity
Michael Collins
THE IRISH REPUBLICAN BROTHERHOOD
Bulmer Hobson
THE IRISH CITIZEN ARMY
Sean O’Casey
THE IRISH VOLUNTEERS
Eoin MacNeill
THE WOMEN OF IRELAND
Maud Gonne
NA FIANNA ÉIREANN
Constance Markievicz
THE HIBERNIAN RIFLES
Desmond FitzGerald
The US edition of this book was called ‘The 1916 Rising – The Photographic Record’ and was published by Rowman & Littlefield.
PREPARING FOR REBELLION
ARMING THE VOLUNTEERS
Sir Thomas Myles
THE SPLIT IN THE VOLUNTEERS
Tom Kettle
O’DONOVAN ROSSA’S FUNERAL
Patrick Pearse
ALLIANCE WITH GERMANY AND THE CAPTURE OF SIR ROGER CASEMENT
John Devoy
Captain Robert Monteith
Captain Raimund Weisbach
Count von Bernstorff, the German Ambassador
THE SS AUD
Diarmuid Lynch
Blinker Hall’s Naval Intelligence
MACNEILL’S COUNTERMAND, EASTER SUNDAY 1916
Seán Mac Diarmada
THE FIRST SHOTS
Padraig Pearse’s Order – ‘Q Ballfyin, 23rd 7pm’
DUBLIN RISES
THE BATTLE COMMENCES
Tom Clarke
SEIZING THE GPO
Joseph Plunkett
Willie Pearse
Arthur ‘Boss’ Shields
The Flag of the Easter Rising
LIBERTY HALL AND HMS HELGA
James Connolly
THE FOUR COURTS AND NORTH KING STREET
Ned Daly
MENDICITY INSTITUTION: HEUSTON’S FORT
Seán Heuston
The Royal Dublin Fusiliers
JACOB’S BISCUIT FACTORY
Thomas MacDonagh
Major John MacBride
Marsh’s Library
Michael O’Hanrahan
THE SOUTH DUBLIN UNION
Éamonn Ceannt
Con Colbert
TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN
ST STEPHEN’S GREEN AND THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS
Rosie Hackett
ATTENDING TO THE WOUNDED
CITY HALL AND DUBLIN CASTLE
Kathleen Lynn
THE PACIFIST AND THE SOLDIER
BOLAND’S MILL
THE BATTLE OF MOUNT STREET BRIDGE
THE END COMES
Michael Rahilly (The O’Rahilly)
John Loder/Lowe
INSURRECTION ACROSS IRELAND
ENNISCORTHY, CO. WEXFORD
COUNTY MEATH
COUNTY GALWAY
Denis McCullough
CO. CORK
The Kent Family
CO. DONEGAL
Patrick McCartan
THE AFTERMATH OF THE REBELLION
BIBLIOGRAPHY
PHOTO CREDITS
Turtle Bunbury signing first batch of 300 copies of ‘Easter Dawn’ at Eason’s HQ, 25 Sept 2015. The book was formally launched at Glasnevin on 15 October 2015,