Patrick Pearse was born in Dublin and spent many summers in Rosmuc in Galway learning Irish. He established a school for boys, St. Enda’s School, where children could learn about Irish culture and language.

The public face of the 1916 Rising, Pearse was in charge of the General Post Office (G.P.O.). When the British army overpowered the Irish rebels, it was Pearse who ordered their general surrender in order to save further loss of life. He was tried and executed by a firing squad in Kilmainham Jail on the 3rd of May 1916.

Ruán O'Donnell is head of the History Department at the University of Limerick & the official historian of the Robert Emmet Association. He has written for The Irish Times and several historical publications.