Seán Heuston ( ; ga, Seán Mac Aodha;Piaras F. Mac Lochlainn, ''Last words : letters and statements of the leaders executed after the rising at Easter 1916'', Dublin: Stationery Office, born John Joseph Heuston; 21 February 1891 – 8 May 1916) was an Irish

republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

rebel and member of

Fianna Éireann Na Fianna Éireann (The Fianna of Ireland), known as the Fianna, is an Irish nationalist youth organisation founded by Constance Markievicz in 1909, with later help from Bulmer Hobson. Fianna members were involved in setting up the Irish Volun ...

who took part in the

Easter Rising The Easter Rising ( ga, Éirí Amach na Cásca), also known as the Easter Rebellion, was an armed insurrection in Ireland during Easter Week in April 1916. The Rising was launched by Irish republicans against British rule in Ireland with t ...

of 1916. With about 20 Volunteers, he held the

Mendicity Institution The Mendicity Institution in Dublin, Ireland, is one of Ireland's and Dublin's oldest charities. It continues its charitable work, including providing meals to Dublin's needy, from its premises at Moira House, Island Street, to the south of Ushe ...

on the

River Liffey The River Liffey ( Irish: ''An Life'', historically ''An Ruirthe(a)ch'') is a river in eastern Ireland that ultimately flows through the centre of Dublin to its mouth within Dublin Bay. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the Riv ...

for over two days, though it was originally only intended to be held for 3–4 hours. He was

executed by firing squad Execution by firing squad, in the past sometimes called fusillading (from the French ''fusil'', rifle), is a method of capital punishment, particularly common in the military and in times of war. Some reasons for its use are that firearms are us ...

on 8 May in

Kilmainham Gaol Kilmainham Gaol ( ga, Príosún Chill Mhaighneann) is a former prison in Kilmainham, Dublin, Ireland. It is now a museum run by the Office of Public Works, an agency of the Government of Ireland. Many Irish revolutionaries, including the l ...

. His courtmartial record at Kew spells his name as Hewston J.J..

Early life

Heuston was born in at

Gloucester Street Gloucester Street is a major urban street in central Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand. It runs for approximately from a junction with Rolleston Avenue, directly opposite Christ's College at its western end to the suburbs of Li ...

in Dublin on 21 February 1891, the son of clerk John Heuston and Maria McDonald. Educated by the Christian Brothers, he later worked as a railway clerk in Limerick and while there took an active part in

, of which he was an officer. Seán Heuston arranged for members who could not afford to buy their uniforms to do so by paying small weekly sums.''The Last Post'': Details & Stories of Irish Republican Dead 1916–1985 Under his guidance the Fianna in Limerick had a course which encompassed not only drilling, including signalling, scout training and weapons training, but also lectures on Irish history and Irish classes.

Irish Volunteers and Fianna Eireann

In 1913 Heuston was transferred to Dublin Fianna, and was appointed to the Emmet Sluagh. He went on to join the ranks of the

Irish Volunteers The Irish Volunteers ( ga, Óglaigh na hÉireann), sometimes called the Irish Volunteer Force or Irish Volunteer Army, was a military organisation established in 1913 by Irish nationalists and republicans. It was ostensibly formed in respon ...

and played a prominent part in the Easter Rising. He was Director of Training for Fianna Eireann as well as being Vice-commandant of the Dublin Battalion and Commander of the 5th company from August 1915 to Easter 1916.Witness Statement of Joseph Reynolds to Bureau of Military History page 5

Easter Rising

Heuston was the Officer Commanding the Irish Volunteers assigned to hold the Mendicity Institution (now called Heustons Fort) on the south side of Dublin city. Acting under orders from

James Connolly James Connolly ( ga, Séamas Ó Conghaile; 5 June 1868 – 12 May 1916) was an Irish republican, socialist and trade union leader. Born to Irish parents in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, Scotland, Connolly left school for working life at the a ...

, Heuston was to hold this position for three or four hours, to delay the advance of British troops. This delay was necessary to give the headquarters staff time to prepare their defences. Having successfully held the position for the specified period, he was to go on to hold it for over two days, with twenty-six Volunteers. With his position becoming untenable against considerable numbers, and the building almost completely surrounded, he sent a dispatch to Connolly informing him of their position. The dispatch was carried by two Volunteers, P. J. Stephenson and Seán McLaughlin, who had to avoid both sniper fire and British troops across the city. It was soon after sending this dispatch that Heuston decided to surrender.Desmond Ryan, ''The Rising'', Golden Eagle Books, Dublin, 1966

The Surrender

Séamus Brennan, a member of the Mendicity Institution Garrison under Heuston, gave the following account of the decision to surrender:

Prisoners

According to the statement given by Séamus Brennan to Piaras F. Mac Lochlainn, author of ''Last Words'', the British troops were "infuriated when they saw the pygmy force that had given them such a stiff battle and caused them so many casualties".Séamus Brennan never saw Seán Heuston again after being transferred to Arbour Hill Detention Barracks.

Court martial

Heuston had been transferred to Richmond Barracks, and on 4 May 1916, he was tried by

court-martial A court-martial or court martial (plural ''courts-martial'' or ''courts martial'', as "martial" is a postpositive adjective) is a military court or a trial conducted in such a court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of memb ...

. On the Sunday, 7 May 1916, the verdict of the court martial was communicated to him that he had been sentenced to death and was to be shot at dawn the following morning.

Execution

Prior to his execution he was attended by Father Albert, O.F.M. Cap in his final hours. Father Albert wrote an account of those hours up to and including the execution:''Memories of Easter Week'', sequel to ''Rebirth of a Nation'', written and spoken Fr Leonard Coughlin O.F.M Cap. Father Albert concluded:

References

* Gibney, John, ''Seán Heuston'', Dublin: O'Brien Press, 2013. {{DEFAULTSORT:Heuston, Sean 1891 births 1916 deaths Irish rebels People from Dublin (city) Executed participants in the Easter Rising Irish soldiers Members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood Irish republicans People educated at O'Connell School