PH Pearse 1879-1916
Patrick Henry Pearse was born in Dublin on 10th November 1879. He was the first child of James, a sculptor from Devon and Margaret Brady. Educated at the Christian Brothers School, Westland Row, Pearse went on to study at University College Dublin where he obtained a BA and subsequently was called to the Bar. Pearse joined the Gaelic League at the age of 16 and became editor of the League's journal, An Claidheamh Solais, in 1906. A man of great vision, Pearse founded Scoil Eanna, a bi-lingual school for boys, in 1908. The school was initially located in Cullenswood House, Ranelagh, before moving to the Hermitage in Rathfarnham two years later.
Pearse was sworn in to the Irish Republican Brotherhood in the summer of 1913. Early in 1914 he visited the United States to raise funds for Scoil Eanna. The following year the legendary Fenian, O Donovan Rossa, died in the United States and the IRB decided to bring his body home for burial in Glasnevin Cemetery. Renowned for his oratory skills Pearse was chosen by the IRB to deliver the oration at Rossa's graveside, a speech which included the immortal lines.
‘Life springs from death and from the graves of patriot men and women spring living nations. The defenders of the realm have worked well in secret and in the open. They think that they have pacified Ireland. They think that they have purchased half of us, and intimidated the other half. They think they have foreseen everything; but the fools! the fools, the fools!- they have left us our Fenian dead; and while Ireland holds these graves Ireland unfree shall never be at peace.'
A member of the Military Council of the IRB, Pearse was Commander-in-Chief of Republican forces during Easter Week and was President of the Provisional Government. Thus, it fell to Pearse to read the Proclamation of the Irish Republic in front of the GPO on Easter Monday, 1916. Patrick Pearse was executed by British firing squad in Kilmainham Gaol on 3rd May, 1916. ‘Let no man doubt who will be master in Ireland when Ireland is free. The people will be masters, the great, splendid, common, sovereign people.’
- PH PEARSE
Patrick Henry Pearse was born in Dublin on 10th November 1879. He was the first child of James, a sculptor from Devon and Margaret Brady. Educated at the Christian Brothers School, Westland Row, Pearse went on to study at University College Dublin where he obtained a BA and subsequently was called to the Bar. Pearse joined the Gaelic League at the age of 16 and became editor of the League's journal, An Claidheamh Solais, in 1906. A man of great vision, Pearse founded Scoil Eanna, a bi-lingual school for boys, in 1908. The school was initially located in Cullenswood House, Ranelagh, before moving to the Hermitage in Rathfarnham two years later.
Pearse was sworn in to the Irish Republican Brotherhood in the summer of 1913. Early in 1914 he visited the United States to raise funds for Scoil Eanna. The following year the legendary Fenian, O Donovan Rossa, died in the United States and the IRB decided to bring his body home for burial in Glasnevin Cemetery. Renowned for his oratory skills Pearse was chosen by the IRB to deliver the oration at Rossa's graveside, a speech which included the immortal lines.
‘Life springs from death and from the graves of patriot men and women spring living nations. The defenders of the realm have worked well in secret and in the open. They think that they have pacified Ireland. They think that they have purchased half of us, and intimidated the other half. They think they have foreseen everything; but the fools! the fools, the fools!- they have left us our Fenian dead; and while Ireland holds these graves Ireland unfree shall never be at peace.'
A member of the Military Council of the IRB, Pearse was Commander-in-Chief of Republican forces during Easter Week and was President of the Provisional Government. Thus, it fell to Pearse to read the Proclamation of the Irish Republic in front of the GPO on Easter Monday, 1916. Patrick Pearse was executed by British firing squad in Kilmainham Gaol on 3rd May, 1916. ‘Let no man doubt who will be master in Ireland when Ireland is free. The people will be masters, the great, splendid, common, sovereign people.’
- PH PEARSE
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