16 Dead Men: The Easter Rising Executions

by Anne-Marie Ryan

Sixteen men were executed in the aftermath of the Easter Rising in Ireland, 1916: fifteen were shot and one was hanged. Their deaths changed the course of Irish history. But who were these leaders who set in motion events that would lead to the creation of an independent Ireland? Teachers, poets, trade unionists, a shopkeeper and a farmer, the executed leaders of the Easter Rising were a diverse group. This book contains fascinating accounts of the life stories of these men and recounts the events that brought each of them to rebellion in April 1916. All these stories are compiled for the first time in one volume, making it an ideal overview for the history enthusiast and a good introduction for the general reader.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Ireland

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2014

Reviews

[Colleen Browne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a handy source of information on the participants of the Easter Rising. It is comprised of a kind of "mini-biography" of each of the men executed after the rising. To many people, these men were an unlikely lot to carry out a rebellion against the most powerful empire in the world. They were poets and teachers, union activists and socialists.

Forging ahead with a rebellion that one of the leaders of the men sent out instructions that no one was to march on Easter Sunday, which put the other participants in a quandary. It was decided that the rebellion would take place on Easter Monday and lasted through the week. At the time of their surrender, there was little sympathy for them from the people of Dublin where most of the fighting took place. There was extensive damage and many civilians were killed. It was only after the executions of the 16 men profiled, that the Irish people responded sympathetically. As per usual with regard to Ireland, Britain handled it very badly and ended up losing Ireland (or 26 of its 32 counties) as a result.

For anyone teaching about the Easter Rebellion or anyone who just wants to know about it. It is a short, well-researched book which merits reading.

[Kavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If there is such a thing as doomed non-fiction 16 Dead Men: The Easter Rising Executions fits the bill. Every major figure in the book is either shot by a firing squad or hung by the neck. Yet, this is not really a book about the men’s death so much as an exploration of the road each man traveled to arrive in a cell awaiting their death. Now given that description 16 Dead Men may sound hopelessly depressing, it’s not. Admittedly it is painful to see lives of promise and optimism ended in many case decades too soon. Yet, what makes the book worthy is the fact each man is presented as so marvelously alive and so filled with purpose right up until they tearfully realize the rising will end. And then rather than succumb to despair each man is to his ability able to summon grace and purpose.

Anne Marie Ryan structures the book around 16 brief individual biographies. This does lead to certain repetitiveness. Virtually every man became interested in the Gaellic language movement; nearly everyone had a relative involved in Fenian movements. Also someone who is very familiar with the Rising, which I am not, may find the material very basic. But for me that was the appeal of the book. It introduced me to the major players in the Rising and provided enough background to make me want to explore more books on the topic.

[Grace Egan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good background to each of the 16 men that were executed

[Niche · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains a retelling of the lives of the 16 men executed after the Rising 1916, paired up with an introduction that gives a short recount of the main events leading up to the Rising &c.
Every chapter is an own short biography and can be read separately, so of course they're going to be some sort of repetitions. It also isn't possible for the book to go into great detail, which the reader should be aware of given that there are just about 250 pages. Still, it gives the reader a general outline of their lives, how exactly they came into contact with ideas of nationalism, their tasks in the Rising and how their personalities were, the latter especially through quotes from people who've met them and some excerpts from letters they wrote, which I found a great addition.
For anyone who's interested in the Rising and wants to know more about these men.

[Elena Rojo · Rating 5 out of 5]

From 25 to 68 years old, catholic and protestant, British or Irish families, rich to poor, very different backgrounds but same goal, the independence of Ireland.
The Easter rising executions, give us a deeper look into the lives of these men that decided that dying for the independence of Ireland was well worth it.

[David Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick summation of Easter Rising Leaders

Review of each leaders background and how they became involved with the Rising. Short on details. Good read and intro.

[Stephen King · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent introduction to the events of Easter 1916. Basically 16 short biographies, whetting the appetite to explore further. One slight moan is that the same events are repeated a number of times, but that is probably unavoidable. Particularly interested in reading more about Casement and Willie Pearse- two totally different men who met a similar fate.

[Paul Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting tome with 16 short bios of the 16 men executed after the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin.

[Betty Strohecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a concise account of the 16 men who were executed for their roles in the Easter Rising for Irish freedom in 1916. I have read biographies of four of the men in the 16 Lives series, so was familiar with several of the men included in this book. Even so, I found new information included in this well-researched and compelling account of men who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their belief in a free Ireland. These were men who came from all backgrounds - poets, playwrights, teachers, a lawyer, labor leader, artist, stone mason, cork cutter, and diplomat. Some grew up in well-to-do families, some in poverty. Yet all were drawn together by a love of Irish history, language, literature, and folklore, which became a desire to see an independent Ireland in charge of her own destiny.

Ryan includes excerpts from their own words and those of friends and family, often very poignant and emotional. Last year was the 100th anniversary of the rising and their deaths. All but one were executed in Ireland between the 3rd and 12th of May - the last in England, August 3rd, 1916. For the past three years I have chosen to honor their memories by reading and learning about their stories near the anniversary of their sacrifices. Anyone of Irish heritage or interested in Irish history will find this book informative.

[Gabriel Woods]

An explicitly detailed account of the executions of the Leaders of the 1916 Rising. The book was disturbing because of it's graphic nature yet honoured the men by detailing the terror the leaders of the Rising faced in their final moments at the hands of the most powerful empire in history. Their crime was attempting to set their motherland free from bondage.