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208
1916 Rising Service Medal to Lieutenant John O’Reilly, Irish Citizens Army. killed in action at City Hall
on 24 April.
The medal officially engraved 63/J. O’REILLY.
John,O’Reilly was killed in action on the first day of The Rising, 24 April 1916 in City Hall. He was second in
command and had taken command after John Connolly was shot, only to be shot himself five hours later. He
was 30 years old, married and came from Gardiner Street Dublin. He had been a member of the Irish Citizen
Army for 2 years and 6 months.
When the Rising commenced, John O’Reilly acted as second- in-command to Sean Connolly and occupied
the City Hall. On the 24 April 1916, John O’Reilly was attempting to get down from the roof of the City Hall
through a skylight, when machine gun fire was opened on him from troops on Birmingham Tower, Dublin
Castle. He was killed instantly, and was later buried in Dublin Castle. His body was handed over to his rela-
tives on 26 May, 1916.
Estimate €15000-€18000 £11700-£14040
Large Image & Place Bid Lot 208