On this day in Irish history... April 24, 1916 On Easter Monday, Irish Volunteers and the Citizen Army, led by Patrick Pearse and James Connolly, seize the General Post Office (GPO) and several other strategic locations in and around Dublin, demanding Irish sovereignty from centuries-long British rule. Patrick Pearse would emerge from the GPO and read the 'Proclamation of the Republic' (Poblacht Na h-Eireann), which stated Ireland's freedom, granted religious and civil liberties, equal rights and equal opportunities to 'every Irishman and Irishwoman.' It was signed: 'On behalf of the Provisional Government, Thomas J. Clarke P.H. Pearse Joseph Plunkett Sean Mac Diarmada Eamonn Ceannt Thomas MacDonagh James Connolly ' All who signed the Proclamation were arrested and executed. You can read the Proclamation, and view pictures of the signers, at: http://www.iol.ie/~dluby/proclaim.htm You can read some wonderful newspaper exerpts of the 1916 Easter Rising at: http://www.iol.ie/~dluby/1916.htm Recommended reading: "The Easter Rebellion: Dublin 1916" by Max Caulfield, 1963, 1995 ISBN: 1-57098-042-X