Sean MacDiarmada ‘The Rising’ will be the first feature length film based on the 1916 Easter Rising. The movie will focus on the life of Sean Mac Diarmada, considered by many as the mastermind of The Rising. Here is some background on Seans life. MacDiarmada was born in February 1883 in Kiltyclogher Co.Leitrim and was educated by the Irish Christian Brothers. In 1900 he emigrated to Glasgow, where he worked as a Tram conductor, before returning to Belfast in 1902. MacDiarmada was sworn into the IRB (Irish Republican Brotherhood) by Denis McCullagh, and transferred to Dublin in 1908. He and Bulmer Hobson started the IRB newspaper ‘Irish Freedom’ in 1910. In 1911 MacDiarmada was afflicted with Polio which left him with a limp and having to walk with a cane. MacDiarmada was appointed as a member of the provisional committee of Irish Volunteers in 1913, and was subsequently drafted onto the military committee of the I. R. B. in 1915 after he had been imprisoned under the ‘Defence of the Realm Act 1914’ for his public speeches that encouraged Irish men not to go to France to fight in the First world War. It is believed that MacDiarmada as well as Tom Clark were the driving force behind the idea of an armed rebellion in 1916. MacDiarmada himself, was stationed in the GPO Garrison during The Rising. He didnt take part in much of the fighting because of his physical limitations but he did direct a lot of the operations that took place during that week. For his involvement in The Rising, MacDiarmada was sentenced to death by firing squad at Kilmainham Gaol. His sentence was carried out at 3.45pm on the 12th May 1916 by order of General Maxwell. He was buried along with the other 1916 leaders in Arbour hill Cemetery. It is reported that MacDiarmada’s last words where “God Save Ireland. Please SHARE this post on Facebook and Twitter @1916movie and INVITE your friends to LIKE this page. Thanks! #supportindiefilm #irishfilm
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 15:07:51 +0000