A small printing press in the home of Joseph Plunkett was responsible for one of the most controversial documents in Irish history.

Carlowman Miceál Ua hAnnracáin was certain only armed rebellion would see the British Empire leave, writes Conor Kostick

How this week 100 years ago was spent by the main players behind the Rising, based largely on observations of their movements by police.

Paul Maguire on the spectacular success of the fifth battalion of the Dublin Brigade against a large Royal Irish Constabulary force in Ashbourne, Co Meath

With no radio, the ship’s captain had no way of knowing he was in Tralee Bay three days earlier than expected, writes Ryle Dwyer

Despite being cleared of any dereliction of duty, the failure of the Cork Brigade to take part in the rebellion weighed heavily on the minds of Tomás MacCurtain and Terence MacSwiney, writes Gerry White

As commander of the Cork Brigade, Tomás MacCurtain was responsible for the success of his mission. But he had been receiving conflicting orders from the Irish Volunteer HQ in Dublin, writes Gerry White

How this week 100 years ago was spent by the men and women behind the Rising

Des O’Sullivan reports on the wealth of 1916 memorabilia coming up for auction prior to the centenary.

When Eleanor Burke eventually asked her grandmother why she never spoke about her membership of Cumann na mBan in Kerry, Ellie Rice replied: “We learned not to speak or say anything because one idle word during that period could cause somebody’s death.”

Details of what was being done this week 100 years ago by those planning the Rising, and how it was observed by British authorities in Ireland.

Ned Daly always wanted to be a soldier so when the Irish Volunteers were founded he seized his chance, says Helen Litton

Thomas Clarke was one of the architect’s of the Easter Rising, his nationalism hardened by 15

ÉAMONN CEANNT is, in many ways, the ‘unknown’ man among the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising, and the signatories to the proclamation of the Irish Republic.

Niall MacMonagle taught English enthusiastically for over 30 years but his determination to share the beauty of poetry is undimmed. He spoke to Sue Leonard about his anthology marking the 1916 Rising centenary.

Journalist and historian, Kevin O’Brien, suggests that almost a hundred years after his death, Thomas Kent is making us look into our past in new ways as the nation prepares to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the event which sparked the birth of the Irish Republic.

Century-old secret police files released to the public for the first time reveal the efforts made to monitor suspected revolutionaries in the 11 months leading up to the 1916 Rising.

The man who lent his name to Cork city’s railway station, Thomas Kent, was aside from Robert Casement, the only 1916 leader executed outside of Dublin, says Richard Fitzpatrick

Our efforts to understand the 1916 Rising and its leaders should focus on their expectations of what would happen and not just what transpired, according to one of the country’s leading historians.

The national conversation about 1916 is starting in earnest. What did it mean then; what does it say about us now?

Almost like the event itself, it nearly didn’t happen, but a private collector has paid €30,000 for a letter in which Irish Volunteers commander Eoin MacNeill tried to call off the 1916 Rising.

Lady Gregory’s letter and various pictures and medals will be up for auction.

A short letter whose 11 words helped change the course of Irish history is to be sold almost 98 years after it severely curtailed the Easter Rising.

Unknown heroes of the Irish Volunteers have been identified in graves in Glasnevin cemetery as part of a new commemoration.

A previously unknown letter written by a Cork lord mayor who died on hunger strike in a British jail has been sold to the Cork City and County Archives.

The auction of a unique collection of War of Independence letters is to go ahead tonight despite calls for the collection to be kept in public ownership.

Rare letters linked to Ireland’s struggle for independence, including a handwritten note by the British prime minister, which were found in a collection not seen in public for almost a century, will go on display in Cork today before the collection goes under the hammer.

First-hand accounts of the Easter Rising and the War of Independence are among important historical documents being made widely available to the public for the first time in almost half a century.

The Dream of the Celt

NEXT weekend marks the 90th anniversary of the 1918 general election, the last British election in which the people of the 26 Counties participated.

PERHAPS the key date in the history of ancient Ireland is that of Good Friday, April 23, 1014, the day of Brian Boru’s victory over the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf.

Tánaiste Michael McDowell tonight conceded he had lost his seat in the General Election.

Three Progressive Democrat TDs have emerged as front runners to take over from Ms Harney – Liz O’Donnel, Michael McDowell and Tom Parlon.

LAST Friday (June 30), was the 84th anniversary of a terrible event in Irish history — the destruction of the Public Records Office by Irregulars led by Rory O’Connor.

ROBIN BURY (Irish Examiner letters, November 8) argues against the State commemorating the 1916 Rising. Yet the State is but the citizens of Ireland acting collectively.

THE Reform Movement questions the decision of Fianna Fáil to bring back a military parade to celebrate the 1916 rebellion.

SINCE Michael McDowell’s grandfather, Eoin MacNeill, tried to stop the 1916 Easter rebellion, will he stand beside Bertie and the other Soldiers of Destiny at the new approved version?

THERE was much discussion in recent weeks about the level of participation in science subjects for the Leaving Certificate.