Pearse, Padraigh Henry

     1879 - 3 May, 1916

       President of Irish Republic as declared in 1916. Pearse was the first one to read out the Poblacht na H eirann declaring the Republic from the steps of the GPO in Dublin, and beginning the Easter Rising that same year. He was a leader of the Gaelic League, and editor of it's Journal. Later, director of operations for Irish Volunteers. Founder of St. Enda's school for boys in 1908 which promoted Irish Nationalsim in these young men. Gaelic poet and writer; lived at Rathfarnham on the outskirts of Dublin. Began to get more into public eye with his oration in honour of Wolfe Tone in June 1913. Also in 1913... "We must accustom ourselves to the thought of arms, and to the use of arms...bloodshed is a cleansing and sanctifying thing, and the nation that regards it as the final horror has lost it's manhood. There are many things more horrible than bloodshed, and slavery is one of them." At the oration for O'Donovan rossa he famously declared... "The fools, the fools, the fools. They have left us our Fenian Dead, and while Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree shall never be at peace." Declared the surrender of Irish rebels after a week of fighting, in Dublin 1916. Was one of the first to be executed following the Rebellion. A great leader and orator he was a driving force in keeping Irish Nationalism alive in early parts of the twentieth century.