The clandestine Irish War News on Tuesday, April 25, 1916 stated ‘The Irish Republic was proclaimed in Dublin on Easter Monday, April 24, at 12 noon. Simultaneously with the issue of the proclamation of the Provisional Government the Dublin division of the Army of the Republic, including the Irish Volunteers, Citizen Army, Hibernian Rifles, and other bodies occupied dominating positions in the city. The GPO was seized at 12 noon, the Castle attacked at the same moment, and shortly afterwards the Four Courts were occupied.

The proclamation, the title deed of the Republic, then established, was signed on behalf of the Provisional Government by seven men, five of whom, P. H. Pearse, James Connolly, Joseph Plunkett, Thomas J. Clarke and Seán Mac Diarmada were to remain in the GPO or contiguous buildings until the surrender on Friday 29 April. Others who left a mark were Michael Collins, ADC to Joseph Plunkett, The O’Rahilly, Seán T. O’Kelly, a future President of Ireland, Seán Lemass, a future Taoiseach, and Desmond FitzGerald, a future minister.

The garrison, apart from occupying the GPO, occupied nearby buildings including the Hotel Metropole, the Imperial Hotel and the Dublin Baking Company from which supplies of bread were commandeered by the commissariat.

The proceedings of Easter week are well known but little is known of the men and women who formed the garrison. Jimmy Wren has now filled that lacuna with the results of some thirty years of intensive research. He is well-qualified to chronicle the lives of these brave young men and women.