Copy of last letter and statement by Éamonn Ceannt, 7 May 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Éamonn Ceannt

This work was originally published by Maynooth University in Ireland in 2017. In 2026 this data, stored in a relational database was extracted and converted into this TEI/XML document.

 Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities Vienna, AT 2026

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This is a typed copy of a last letter and statement written by Éamonn Ceannt (1881-1916) on the eve of his execution in Kilmainham Gaol. Ceannt was one of the leaders of the Easter Rising and a signatory of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic. During the Rising he commanded the garrison in the South Dublin Union. Following the surrender he was tried by court-martial and sentenced to death. He was executed on 8 May 1916. A handwritten note by Eithne Coyle O'Donnell notes that the copy was given to her by Ceann't wife, Áine (1880-1954), shortly before her death.

University College Dublin Archives Eithne Coyle O'Donnell Papers, P61/12 https://letters1916.ie/item/1562 English Éamonn Ceannt 1916-05-07 Kilmainham Gaol, Inchicore, Dublin, Ireland Male 1916 Last Letters before Death Easter Rising Ireland 1916 Last Letters before Death

The data in these XML files was generated based on a data dump from the Magellan database (https://github.com/Maynooth-Center-for-Digital-Humanities/Magellan). Each database record has been converted to a JSON file (https://github.com/letters1916static/letters-data/tree/main/json). The element section of the JSON file contains the TEI-encoded contents of the letters. The TEI XML has been cleaned and made well-formed using a Python script (https://github.com/letters1916static/letters-data/tree/main/src).

 Cell 88 Kilmainham Gaol, May 1916 I leave for the guidance of the other revolutionaries who may tread the path which I have trod this advice: never to treat with the enemy, never to surrender to his mercy but to fight to a finish. I see nothing gained but grave disaster caused by the surrender which has marked the end of the Irish Insurrection of 1916 - so far at least as Dublin is concerned. The enemy has not cherished one generous thought for those who, with little hope, with poor equipment & weak in members withstood his forces for one glorious week. Ireland has shown that she is a nation. This generation can claim to have raised sons as brave as any that went before and in the years to come Ireland will honour those who risked all for her honour at Easter 1916. I bear no ill-will towards those against whom I fought. I have found the common soldiers and the higher officers humane and companionable, even the English who were actually in the fight against us. Thank God soldiering for Ireland has opened my heart and helped me to see pure humanity where I expect to find only scorn and reproach. I have met the man who escaped from me by a ruse under the red cross but I do not regret having withheld my fire. He gave me cakes. I wish to record the magnificent gallantry and fearless calm determination of the men who fought with me. All were simply splendid. Even I knew no fear or panic and shrunk from no risk even as I shrink not now from the death that faces me at day-break. I hope to see the face of God even for a moment in the morning. His will be done. All here are very kind. My poor wife saw me yesterday and bore up; so the warder told me, even she left my presence. Poor Aine, poor Ronan, God is their only shield now that I am removed and God is a better shield than I. I have seen Aine Nell Richard and Mick and bid th bid them conditional goodbye. Even now they have hope. Eamonn Ceannt. Received this copy of Eamonn Ceannt's last letter from his wife before her death. Eithne Ni Dómnaill IRISH REBELLION. MAY 1916 EAMONN CEANNT (Commandant of the South Dublin Area), EXECUTED MAY 8TH, 1916. One of the signatories of the "Irish Republic Proclamation." Éamonn Ceannt Letter from James Connolly to Éamonn Ceannt, 23 April 1916Letter from Cathal Brugha to Éamonn Ceannt, 24 April 1916Letter from Éamonn Ceannt to Áine Ceannt, 5 May 1916Letter from Éamonn Ceannt to Áine Ceannt, May 1916Letter from Éamonn Ceannt to Áine Ceannt, 4 May 1916Note from Eamonn Ceannt to Thomas MacDonagh, 3 April 1916Copy of last letter and statement by Éamonn Ceannt, 7 May 1916Letter from Éamonn Ceannt, 2 November 1915Letter from Éamonn Ceannt, 10 November 1915Letter from Cathal Brugha to Éamonn Ceannt, 24 April 1916 Kilmainham Gaol, Inchicore, Dublin, Ireland Letter from Seán Heuston to Edward Walsh, 7 May 1916Copy of letter from Patrick Pearse to his mother Margaret Pearse, 3 May 1916Copy of last letter and statement by Éamonn Ceannt, 7 May 1916