This is the text of the original declaration of the Irish Republic.
The Proclamation of
Poblacht na h Eireann

The Provisional Government
of the
Irish Republic
To the People of Ireland

IRISHMEN AND IRISHWOMEN: In the name of God and the dead generations from which she recieves her old tradition of nationhood, Ireland, through us, summons her children to her flag and strikes for her freedom.
Having organised and trained her manhood through her secret revolutionary orginisation, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and through her open military orginisations, the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Citizen Army, having patiently perfected her discipline, having resolutely waited for the right moment, and, supported by her exiled children in America and by gallant allies in Europe, but relying in the first on her own strength, she strikes in full confidence of victory.
We declare the right of the people of Ireland to ownership of Ireland, and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies, to be sovereign and indefeasable. The long usurpation of that right by a foreign people and government has not exstinguished that right, nor can it ever be extinguished except by the destruction of the Irish people. In every generation the Irish people have asserted their right to national freedom and sovereignty: six times during the past three hundred years they have asserted it in arms in the State, and we pledge our lives and the lives of our comarades-in-arms to the cause of its freedom, of its welfare, and of its exhaltation among the nations.
The Irish Republic is entitled to, and hereby claims, the allegiance of every Irishman and Irishwomen. The Republic gaurantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and all its parts, cherishing all the children of the nation equally, and oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an alien government, which has divided a minority from the majority in the past.
Until our arms have brought the opportune moment for the establishment of a permanent National Government, representative of the whole people of Ireland and elected by the suffrages of all her men and women, the provisional Government, hereby constituted, will administer the civil and military affairs of the Republic in trust for the people.
We place the cause of the Irish Republic under the protection of the Most High God, Whose blessing we invoke upon our arms, and we pray that no one who serves that cause will dishonour it by cowardice, inhumanity, or rapine. In this supreme hour, the Irish nation must, by its valour and discipline and by the readiness of its children to sacrifice themselves for the common good, prove itself worthy of the august destiny to which it is called.

Signed on Behalf of the Provisional Government.
THOMAS J. CLARKE
SEAN MacDIARMADA
THOMAS MacDONAGH
P. H. PEARSE
EAMONN CEANNT
JAMES CONNOLLY
JOSEPH PLUNKETT


-------thanks maP

WHO'S WHO OF IRISH ......?
I did not exactly know how to title this section. Theres some people on my list from history, some from the present. Most all are involved in politics. Some were martyrs, some werent. I also name people like James Connolly and Wolfe Tone on the same list with people like Lloyd George. No offense intended. This list is a work in progress, so these short blurbs Ive put in here are just a beginning, i hope.

Key Individuals in Ireland’s Past:

James Connolly- Signatory of the Proclamation of the Republic. A self-proclaimed Marxist, he founded The Irish Transport and General Workers Union in 1909. Commandant and founder of the Citizen Army. One of the leaders of the Easter Monday rising, 1916. Was shot to death in Kilmainham Gaol by firing squad.

Padraig Pearse- Signatory of the Proclamtion of the Republic. The son of a Dublin artisan, Padraig earned a degree in both Law and Language. Editor of the Gaelic League’s “An Claidheamh Soluis “ (The Sword of Light) for 6 years. Ran St Enda’s School and was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood’s military council. Gave a stirring oration at the funeral of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa, openly defying British rule in Ireland. Lead the rebellion of 1916, and was shot to death afterward in Kilmainham Gaol by firing squad. Famous Quotes: “Life springs from death, and from the graves of patriot men and women spring living nations.“ ; “While Ireland holds these graves, Ireland, unfree shall never be at peace.”

Thomas Clarke- Signatory of the Proclamation of the Republic. Born in the Isle of Wight in 1857, he emigrated to the United States at an early age. He took a job as an explosives expert for a construction firm in Staten Island. At the age of 18 he joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood and was sent to London to practice his expertise. Captured with a case of liquid explosives, he was jailed in Pentonville Prison, where his cellmate was John Daly, the Mayor of Limerick. After he was released he returned to America for a time, and then moved back to Dublin in 1907. In Dublin he opened a small tobacconist shop on Parnell Square. He became a leading member of the IRB’s military council, and was the first to sign the proclamation. For his part in the Easter Monday rising of 1916, he was shot to death in Kilmainham Gaol by firing squad.

Sean MacDiarmada- Signatory of the Proclamation of the Republic. Was born in 1884 in County Leitrim. He emigrated to Scotland at the age of 16 to find work, and moved to Belfast at the age of 18 to find more. In 1906 he joined the Belfast section of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and was later appointed to the position of Treasurer of the supreme council. He became the manager of the IRBs paper “Irish Freedom” in 1910.
In 1912 he was crippled by polio, but in 1913 was well enough to become a co-founder of the Irish Volunteers. A member of the IRB’s secret group for planning the Easter Rising, he fought in Dublin’s General Post Office during the rising. He was shot to death afterward in Kilmainham Gaol by firing squad.

Thomas MacDonagh- Signatory of the Proclamation of the Republic. Born 1878 in County Tipperary, he took an example from his parents, and became a teacher. While vacationing in the Aran Islands, he met Padraig Pearse, who invited him to teach at St.Enda’s. MacDonagh accepted. As a member of the Gaelic League, he had great interest in Gaelige, and received a Masters Degree in Arts. He became an English Professor at the National University in 1910. He was a co-founder of the Irish Volunteers, and was elected Commandant of the 2nd Battalion, Dublin Brigade. Played a major role in the Howth arms landing with Bulmer Hobson, The O’Rahilly, Eamonn Ceannt, and Erskine Childers. During the rising, the 2nd battalion’s responsibility was the area around St. Stephen’s Green, and blowing up Magazine Fort. At first refusing surrender orders, he surrendered to British troops. Tried without witnesses or defense, as all the prisoners were, he was shot to death in Kilmainham Gaol by firing squad, May 3 1916.

Eamonn Ceannt- Signatory of the Proclamation of the Republic. Born 1881 in County Galway. He joined the staff of the Dublin City Council. In 1900 he joined the Gaelic League, and became a member of the governing body. Went to Rome with a group of athletes to see Pope Pius XI, whom he played the Uilleann pipes for. He joined Sinn Fein in 1908, and the Irish Republican Brotherhood shortly after. In 1913 he co-founded the Irish Volunteers, and was elected to its Provisional Committee. He was in command of the South Dublin Union during the rising, 1916. He was shot to death, with his comrades, in Kilmainham Gaol by firing squad.

William of Orange- Defeated the Catholic King James II of England at the Battle of the Boyne (July 1 1691). Usurped the English Throne. Guaranteed the Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland, and centuries of civil and religious unrest in the Emerald Isle. July 12, Orange Day, celebrated by Unionists in the North of Ireland, commemorates this victory.

Brian Boru- Legendary High King of Ireland, who defeated the Norse Invaders at Clontarf on 23 April 1014. A Warrior King, he ended the reign of the Ui Nialls of Ulster, drove the Vikings from Ireland, and had his name inscribed in “The Book of Armagh” as The Emperor of Ireland. Slain in his tent shortly after the Battle of Clontarf, along with his son Murchadh, by King Brodar of Man.