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1916 (24 to 28 April) Manuscript contemporaneous
eye witness account of the Rising by a Dublin solicitor.
Written by Edward J. French, a solicitor practising at 7 St. Stephen’s
Green. A very interesting account starting with disruption of his train
journey from Bray after a hill walk on the holiday Monday - Sinn Feiners
had seized the station in Dublin”. At Kingstown he heard “ policemen
being shot and The Munster Fusiliers called up from camp had sided
with the rebels”, an acquaintance “Geo. Knox” was shot at Stephen’s
Green. On Tuesday he heard firing at 5.30am and walked from his home
in Donnybrook, where the police station was closed, and mentions
barricades at the Shelbourne Hotel, a dead horse on the pavement,
shooting between soldiers in the Shelbourne and rebels in the College
of Surgeons “distinctly an unhealthy area” so he didnt go to his office
on the Green. He walked as far as Abbey Street and describes “the
GPO garrisoned by rebels” with “the Republican flag” flying over it. He
mentions an acquaintance “Browning”, “having been shot ...returning
from a march of the GR Volunteers”. Good detail about the rest of the
week including news from other acquaintances concerning rebels at
Castlebellingham, “good deal of blood about” (on the Green), account of
Sherwood Foresters ignoring warnings that they would be ambushed at
Mount Street Bridge, “a good few were killed”, gunboat shelling Bolands
and “a shell came whizzing past” at Baggot Street, and much more.
Fascinating atmospheric account, pp13. Accompanied by biographical
notes on the writer.”
€500-€700
Large Image & Place Bid Lot 195