A Historic Analysis of the 1916 Proclamation
History; Document Analysis on 1916 Proclamation
Name: Robbie Martinez Teacher: Irial Glynn
‘Let our generation not shirk its deed, which is to accomplish the revolution ’ - Patrick Pearse
The Proclamation was a statement issued by the Irish Volunteers, and the Irish Citizen Army involved in the 1916 Rising. The political activist, and one of the leaders of the Rising, Patrick Pearse, read the Proclamation to passers-by outside the GPO on the morning the Rising began. The document holds many characteristics that are unique, and interesting; the language within the 1916 Proclamation, for example, is quite unusual; a typical reader would find that when comparing this language to that used today, a major difference can immediately be seen, but it is understandable as it is expected for the use of language to change and adapt as time progresses. What also makes the document unique is its title, and what it stands for; an Irish Proclamation in itself is extremely unique, especially for its time. The Act of Union in 1800 brought Ireland under British parliamentary rule. The Irish Republican Brotherhood, certain factions of the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Citizen Army who occupied buildings around central Dublin in Easter Week 1916 challenged this British authority by fighting for Irish independence. This is clearly demonstrated in the proclamation when it states:
‘We declare the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland, and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies, to be sovereign and indefeasible. The long usurpation of that right by a foreign people and government has not extinguished the right, nor can it ever be extinguished except by the
Name: Robbie Martinez Teacher: Irial Glynn
‘Let our generation not shirk its deed, which is to accomplish the revolution ’ - Patrick Pearse
The Proclamation was a statement issued by the Irish Volunteers, and the Irish Citizen Army involved in the 1916 Rising. The political activist, and one of the leaders of the Rising, Patrick Pearse, read the Proclamation to passers-by outside the GPO on the morning the Rising began. The document holds many characteristics that are unique, and interesting; the language within the 1916 Proclamation, for example, is quite unusual; a typical reader would find that when comparing this language to that used today, a major difference can immediately be seen, but it is understandable as it is expected for the use of language to change and adapt as time progresses. What also makes the document unique is its title, and what it stands for; an Irish Proclamation in itself is extremely unique, especially for its time. The Act of Union in 1800 brought Ireland under British parliamentary rule. The Irish Republican Brotherhood, certain factions of the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Citizen Army who occupied buildings around central Dublin in Easter Week 1916 challenged this British authority by fighting for Irish independence. This is clearly demonstrated in the proclamation when it states:
‘We declare the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland, and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies, to be sovereign and indefeasible. The long usurpation of that right by a foreign people and government has not extinguished the right, nor can it ever be extinguished except by the
Bibliography: Moody, W. T. ‘The Course of Irish History’ Cork (2001) O’ Heithir, B. ‘A Pocket History of Ireland’. Dublin (1989). Townshend, C. ‘Easter 1916, The Irish Rebellion’ London (2005) .