Dublin’s Easter Rebellion Redux #TuesdayTravels #Ireland

Tuesday Travels

I haven’t done a Tuesday Travels post in a while but today we’re revisiting Dublin in honor of the 105th anniversary of Ireland’s Easter Rebellion.

The uprising began on April 24, 1916 while the United Kingdom was in the midst of World War I. Rebels from the secretive Irish Republican Brotherhood, led by Patrick Pearse, streamed into Dublin from the countryside. The armed men attacked government buildings and seized the General Post Office. After initial success, they declared Irish independence.

Dublin post office

The historic General Post Office, Dublin, Ireland.

However, the British launched a counteroffensive and the rebellion was crushed after only five days. The Irish people were initially not supportive of the rebellion, but the harsh measures meted out to the rebels stirred public resentment. The leaders of the uprising, including Pearse and James Connolly, were executed and became instant martyrs. When I visited Dublin Castle, we learned about the execution of the prisoners and visited a room dedicated to their memory.

Armed protests broke out and in 1921, a vote was held. 26 of Ireland’s 32 counties voted for independence and the Irish Republic was born. The other counties remain part of Northern Ireland, in the United Kingdom.

Statue of Michael Collins

When I was in Ireland, we took a day excursion to west County Cork where I saw this statue of Michael Collins, who participated in the Easter Rebellion and went on to be a leader of Sinn Fein and the Irish Republican Army. In Jan. 22, he became Chairman of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State until his assassination in August 1922.

Irish history is turbulent and disturbing, but quite fascinating. I’d love to see more of the Emerald Isle some day.

Linda

Happy St. Paddy’s Day

Charmed Conn St Pat Day graphic

This morning I’ll be at The Charmed Connection’s St. Patrick’s Day Facebook Party at 10AM PDT (1PM EDT). Join me for a discussion of all things Irish as well as several of my books. The party starts at 8AM EDT/5AM PDT. For the occasion, my western romance, Lily and the Gambler, is priced at only 99 cents at Amazon.com!

Save the date white block calendar for St Patrick’s Day, March 17, with Leprechaun hat, pot of gold, and rainbow, on green background.

I’m part Irish by heritage, but of the Northern, Protestant, “Orange”, variety. When I was growing up in Pittsburgh, my mother and grandmother always insisted we should wear orange on St. Patrick’s Day. Then we moved to Southern California and I quickly discovered that not wearing green on March 17th meant complete strangers would pinch you. I rarely made that mistake again. Besides, I look better in green than in orange.

I do have one pet peeve though. I cringe every time I walk into a restaurant and see a sign advertising “St. Patty’s Day” specials. Patty is short for Patricia. The proper nickname for Patrick is Paddy, a name once used pejoratively for Irishmen.

Now there is a St. Patricia of Naples, but I’m pretty sure she wasn’t Irish!  And her feast day is August 25th, not March 17th. So no more St. Patty’s Day signs, please!

St. Patrick's Cathedral

St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland.

This is one of my favorite Irish blessings:

Here’s to lying, stealing, and cheating!
May you lie to save a friend;
May you steal the heart of the one you love;
And may you cheat death.

And my own St. Patrick’s Day wish:

On St. Paddy’s Day,
My wish for you
Is a large bowl
Of Irish stew.
And a pint or two
Of your favorite brew.

And may you be an hour in heaven before the devil knows you’re gone!

What are you doing for St. Patrick’s Day? I’ll be eating Corned Beef and Cabbage, but I won’t be drinking green beer.

Linda / Lyndi