1
Dear ag, I am sending my
report on the recent fight.
On Easter Monday about 10 a.m.
we broke camp and marched
to Liberty Hall. ( We are the Kimmage
Garrison remember about 80 men )
We joined the Citizen Army under
Commandant Connolly at Liberty
Hall and marched to O'Connell
St where we took possession of
G.P.O. and surrounding buildings.
Meanwhile the Irish Volunteers
( Dublin Brigade ) took up
comanding positions. Jacobs Factory,
Bolands Mills, Four Courts and
many other places. About 1 p.m.
an attack was made on GPO
by a large troop of Lancers
2
but with rifle fire and bombs
they were easily repulsed
retreating in panicky disorder
and suffering many casualties.
This was my baptism of fire
Alf was at the other end of unusually-spelled textstrat
near O'Connell Bridge, he told me
after. Looting began about this
time which we made ineffectual
efforts to suppress. About four
p.m. I was sent scouting with
about 1-10 Volunteers. We met
about 20 D. M. P but took no
notice of them. They were armed
with revolvers but as they did
not attack we let them go.
From Monday evening till Tuesday
night 40 of us held a bridge
at Fairview against an English
regiment 600 strong. On Tuesday
night we retreated quietly and
An incomplete letter from an Irish Volunteer of the Kimmage Garrison, to 'Ag' giving
a dramatic account of events during the first two days (Monday and Tuesday) of the
1916 Easter Rising. The letter seems to be written soon after the event. The Volunteer
describes the failed attack by British lancers of the 6th Cavalry, a shoot out on
O'Connell bridge, the looting of Sackville Street and the live and let live attitude
between the Volunteers and members of the RIC.The Kimmage Garrison was set up by Joseph
Mary Plunkett and George Oliver Plunkett, at Larkfield House, Kimmage. The property
was used by the Volunteers as a weapons store, explosives factory, training base,
and quarters for enlistees returning from overseas.