Relatives of Easter Rising’s heroes unveil memorial plaque

DESCENDANTS of 52 men and women who formed the City Hall garrison during the 1916 Easter Rising gathered yesterday to see a plaque in their memory unveiled.

The memorial on the front of City Hall was unveiled by Dublin Lord Mayor Michael Conaghan, who said he was proud to have relatives of the 52 heroes at the commemoration.

Lorraine Coyle, the granddaughter of Thomas Coyle, who fought with the City Hall garrison, was instrumental in getting the new plaque erected.

"There used to be a plaque but it disappeared, so I said surely there should be something to remember the events," she said. "It's a very proud and very emotional day for us."

She said it was great to see so many people connected with the events had turned up for the commemoration.

Derek Oman, grandson of bugler William Oman who sounded the fall-in outside Liberty Hall and later held High Street against a British patrol single-handedly, said talking to people at the commemoration was an eye-opener.

"My grandfather never portrayed himself to be a hero, he always kept a low profile," Mr Oman said.

"For the whole family, it's a very proud day. We've gone down the road and seen how much he did contribute," he said.

Joe Duffy, the son of nurse Bridget Davis who was one of the women in the garrison at City Hall, along with Helena Molony and Dr Kathleen Lynn, said being there was a great occasion.

"I'm delighted to see that everybody appreciates the work they did, as this part is sometimes neglected because of what happened at the GPO and other places," he said.

He said his mother was there when the leader of the garrison, Captain Sean Connolly, died and that her uniform, with his blood on it, was on display at Kilmainham Jail, where she was imprisoned for a while.

The Lord Mayor said: "These were men and women who were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice and to give their lives for Ireland.

"Today we are not called upon to die for Ireland instead our task is to live and work for Ireland, to build up our society, to ensure equality for all, to welcome the stranger, to plan for future generations.

"Our commemoration today of the courage and nobility of the City Hall garrison and its outposts should give us inspiration to devote ourselves to these tasks with renewed fervour so that the Ireland which we build in the 21st century may be of itself the most fitting tribute of all to the fulfilment of the ideals."

There was also an original 1916 Proclamation, which had belonged to nurse Elizabeth O'Farrell, on display at City Hall.