James Connolly 1868-1916
James Connolly was born to Irish parents in Edinburgh in 1868. He worked from the age of eleven, initially as a printer’s devil. He joined the British Army at the age of fourteen and was stationed in Ireland. He and his family settled in Dublin for a time and in 1896 Connolly founded the Irish Socialist Republican Party. This was followed, in 1898, by the founding of an Irish socialist newspaper, ‘The Workers Republic’. He lived in the United States from 1903-1910 where he was an organiser for the Industrial Workers of the World, and also editor of The Harp. On his return to Ireland he settled in Belfast and took the position as Organiser for the newly formed Irish Transport and General Workers Union. A leading figure during the 1913 Lockout, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Irish Citizen Army to protect workers from vicious attacks by the police. Entirely self-educated, Connolly was a prolific writer and, in 1914, he re-established The Workers Republic. During Easter Week, Connolly was Commandant General, Dublin Division of the Army of the Irish Republic and fought in the GPO. He was severely injured during the fighting, having been hit in the leg by a sniper’s bullet. He was the last of the signatories to be executed. On the morning of his execution, Connolly was transported, by ambulance, from the field hospital in Dublin Castle, to the stone breakers yard in Kilmainham Gaol. There, he was carried off by stretcher and strapped to a chair.
James Connolly was executed by British firing squad on 12th May, 1916
James Connolly was born to Irish parents in Edinburgh in 1868. He worked from the age of eleven, initially as a printer’s devil. He joined the British Army at the age of fourteen and was stationed in Ireland. He and his family settled in Dublin for a time and in 1896 Connolly founded the Irish Socialist Republican Party. This was followed, in 1898, by the founding of an Irish socialist newspaper, ‘The Workers Republic’. He lived in the United States from 1903-1910 where he was an organiser for the Industrial Workers of the World, and also editor of The Harp. On his return to Ireland he settled in Belfast and took the position as Organiser for the newly formed Irish Transport and General Workers Union. A leading figure during the 1913 Lockout, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Irish Citizen Army to protect workers from vicious attacks by the police. Entirely self-educated, Connolly was a prolific writer and, in 1914, he re-established The Workers Republic. During Easter Week, Connolly was Commandant General, Dublin Division of the Army of the Irish Republic and fought in the GPO. He was severely injured during the fighting, having been hit in the leg by a sniper’s bullet. He was the last of the signatories to be executed. On the morning of his execution, Connolly was transported, by ambulance, from the field hospital in Dublin Castle, to the stone breakers yard in Kilmainham Gaol. There, he was carried off by stretcher and strapped to a chair.
James Connolly was executed by British firing squad on 12th May, 1916
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