1
To Comdt Kent Emerald Square Caithfidh tú duine éigin eile
d'fhághailt chun obair Thaidg Uí
Briain a dhéanamh Cathal Bruga
Just got message. I did not wire because
I thought you could get your motor cyclist
when you received my message.
10.55 am 24 4 16
I.V. cyclist You must get someone to do the work of Tadhg Ó Briain (O’Brien). Cathal Brugha
This is a letter from Cathal Brugha (1874-1922), revolutionary, to Éamonn Ceannt (1881),
cultural nationalist and revolutionary.
Brugha writes a message in English and in Irish on the morning of the Easter Rising
from his mobilisation point. Eoin MacNeill's countermanding order and the decision
to postpone the Rising until Easter Monday led to much confusion and a far reduced
number of men turned out.
Brugha (born Charles Burgess) was an active nationalist, member of the Gaelic League
and adjutant of the 4th Dublin battalion of the Irish Volunteers. Ceannt was Ceannt
was an active cultural nationalist and seperatist and was a member of the Gaelic League,
the Irish Volunteers (where he was director of communications and commandant of the
4th Dublin battalion) and the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Ceannt was a signatory
of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic and during the Easter Rising Ceannt commanded
the garrison of rebels in the South Dublin Union where Brugha served as his second
in command. Brugha was severely wounded during the fighting but survived and Ceannt
was executed on 8 May 1916.