In Conversation
The O Rahilly
Recorded: 2012
Length: 43mins
Length: 43mins
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He was a member of Sinn Fein, the party founded by Arthur Griffith. He wrote articles for publication in the United Irishman and its successor Sinn Fein. He travelled extensively throughout Europe and lived for a number of years in the United States.
In 1913 he became one of the founding members of the Irish Volunteers. He was in charge of the first major arming of the Irish Volunteers from a consignment of German rifles and ammunition smuggled into Howth and Kilcoole aboard the yacht's the Asgard and the Kelpie.
Despite being given the position of "Director of Arms", he had no knowledge or role in the planning of the Easter Rising. He supported Eoin MacNeill's, the Irish Volunteers Chief-of-Staff, attempt to abort the Easter Rising but, the attempt having failed, joined the garrison in the GPO and was killed on 28 April 1916 leading a charge down Moore Street.
The O'Rahilly's De Dion-Bouton car, which was used to fetch supplies (likely including arms) during the siege, ultimately ended up being used as part of a barricade on Prince's St. during the Rising, where it was burnt out. The De Dion was buried, along with other rubble from Sackville St. and environs, beneath the Hill 16 terrace in Ireland's largest sporting stadium, Croke Park.
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