TODAY in HISTORY (24 April): The Irish Easter Rebellion of 1916

On 24 April 1916 - Easter Monday - in Dublin, a secret organisation led by Patrick Pearse - the Irish Republican Brotherhood - launches the Easter Rebellion, an armed uprising against British rule.

Pearse and his fellow Republicans were assisted by militant Irish socialists under James Connolly. It started out with riots which developed into attack on the British provincial government headquarters across Dublin.

Eventually they seized the Irish capital’s General Post Office and proclaimed the independence of Ireland.

By the next morning they were in control of much of Dublin, but later that day, however, British authorities launched a counteroffensive. By April 29 the uprising had been crushed. Nevertheless, the Easter Rebellion is considered a significant marker on the road to establishing an independent Irish republic.

Pearse and 14 other nationalist leaders were executed for their role in the rebellion.

Till today they are held up as martyrs by many in Ireland.

Sources:
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/easter-rebellion-begins