The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-06-09
Last Messages Of Eamonn
ceannt to ireland /, Wife
and His Son
Executed May 8, 1916.

Executed May 8, 1916.
The Irish Press and News Service
prints for the first time letters of Com
mandant Eamonn Ceannt written
from his cell, So Kilmainham Prison.
a few hours before his execution. The
letters have been saved by the sister
in-law of the late patriot, Miss Kath-
leen M. O'Brennan of Dublin, who is
lecturing in this country.
Commandment Eamonn Ceannt of the
Irish Republican Army:
Executed May 9Th, 1916.
OF the seven signatories of the Dec
laration of independence, of the Irish
Republic, who gave their lives last
Easter Week in the glorious fight for
Irish independence, the figure of
Eamonn Ceannt stands out tall, aris-
tocratic and soldierly, one of those
silent, thoughtful men who believed
that deeds alone counted when it came
to the struggle with England for Ire
lands freedom. He was remarkable
for the moral courage and the bravery
he displayed on every important issue.
Born in Glenemaddy, County Gal
way, on the twenty-first of September,
1881. He was about ten years of age
when his family removed to Dublin.
He was one of the most brilliant pu-
pills of the now famous North Rich
mond Street Schools, conducted by the
Christian Brothers, passing through
his intermediate course to the Univer.
sity with brilliant distinctions. After
college, he entered the service of the
Dublin corporation, obtaining by COM
petitive examination a post in the
Rates Department, being afterward
promoted to the City Treasurer's Of
flee and was an assistant to the City
Treasurer with a lucrative salary at
the time of his death.
Although occupied until five i'm the
evening, he found time to acquire an
extensive knowledge of his own Ian
guage and literature, becoming a most
fluent speaker of Gaelic. AS member
OF the central branch of the Gaelic
League Gard Croad), he was soon
elected secretary of the Branch and
was unanimously selected to repre-
sent the Branch as delegate to the
Ard Feis-or annual assembly of the
Gaelic League.
Possessed OF a most sincere and
convincing personality, he was soon
elected member of the governing
body OF the society. In 1907 he joined
the Sim Fein movement and was
shortly afterwar1 elected member
of it's governing Eody, "The National
Council"
1t was after the iapsing of the Arms
Act that he proposed resolution at
the meeting of the National Council,
"That it is the duty of all Irishmen
to possess a knowledge of arms" This
resolution was passed and, suiting his
action to his word, Eamonn in COM
pany with other members of the Coun-
Gil, including O'Rabilly, Joined a nina
ture Rifle Club. In 1912 Padraic H.
Pearse edited a short-lived political
paper, GAN BARR BUADH," written
exclusively in Irish and to each num-
Der Eamonn Caennt contributed an
dl tlClC. III OllC VI LuSSC dTLlClCS
Eamonn made strong appeal to the
young men to make themselves physi-
cally fit to be ready for 1reland's CALL
Funds were short, so the paper could
not exist, but the readers minds had
already been prepared for the incep-
ton of the volunteers, which move
ment was started in 1913.
The success Of the Irish Volunteers,
which the Irish member in the British!
Parliament predicted would turn reg
gedness" was remarkable. The first
week 10000 men Joined the army.
When Mr.. Asqujth told Mr.. Redmond
that he would not allow such an army
to grow in Ireland, Redmond, with his
usual docility, Promised to try and
capture it, and then appealed to the
volunteers to allow his representa-
tives on the governing board. Eamonn
Caennt was one Of the eight members
who voted against John Redmond's
nominees. OF these eight, four have
been executed; Padraic H. Pearse,
Sean MacDermot, Conn Colbert and
Eamonn Caennt. end another, Pierce
Beasley, is in penal servitude.