Seán MacDiarmada 1883-1916
Seán MacDiarmada was born in Kiltyclogher, Co. Leitrim, in 1883. At the age of fifteen he travelled to Glasgow where he lived for a time, before moving to Belfast where he worked as a tram conductor. It was in Belfast that he joined the Gaelic League, Sinn Féin and the Irish Republican Brotherhood. In 1907, as National Organiser of Sinn Féin he played a key role in that party's first electoral contest, the North Leitrim by-election. In Dublin he met Tom Clarke and they developed a great friendship. Clarke appointed MacDiarmada National Organiser for the IRB. He travelled extensively throughout the country and was a hugely popular figure. An extremely industrious character, MacDiarmada served as editor and manager of the IRB newspaper, Irish Freedom. He was also one of the founders of the Irish Volunteers, fulfilling the role of Secretary to both the Supreme Council of the IRB and the Military Council. Despite having to use a walking stick as a result of having contracted polio in 1911, MacDiarmada played a leading role in the events of Easter Week, fighting in the GPO. Seán MacDiarmada was executed by British firing squad on 12th May, 1916.
Seán MacDiarmada was born in Kiltyclogher, Co. Leitrim, in 1883. At the age of fifteen he travelled to Glasgow where he lived for a time, before moving to Belfast where he worked as a tram conductor. It was in Belfast that he joined the Gaelic League, Sinn Féin and the Irish Republican Brotherhood. In 1907, as National Organiser of Sinn Féin he played a key role in that party's first electoral contest, the North Leitrim by-election. In Dublin he met Tom Clarke and they developed a great friendship. Clarke appointed MacDiarmada National Organiser for the IRB. He travelled extensively throughout the country and was a hugely popular figure. An extremely industrious character, MacDiarmada served as editor and manager of the IRB newspaper, Irish Freedom. He was also one of the founders of the Irish Volunteers, fulfilling the role of Secretary to both the Supreme Council of the IRB and the Military Council. Despite having to use a walking stick as a result of having contracted polio in 1911, MacDiarmada played a leading role in the events of Easter Week, fighting in the GPO. Seán MacDiarmada was executed by British firing squad on 12th May, 1916.
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