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Joseph Mary Plunkett
Joseph Mary Plunkett was born in Dublin on 21 November 1887 in a well known Irish family. One of his ancestors, Archbishop Oliver Plunkett, refused to abjure Catholicism and was hanged and beheaded by the English in 1681. Oliver Plunkett was canonised in 1975. Further up the family tree Joseph's father, George Noble Plunkett, had been made Papal count in 1884 for his efforts on behalf of the Catholic church.
Joseph Plunkett was a sickly child. He was tormented by a respiration condition which deteriorated over the years. After his education in Dublin and Lancashire he left the cold and moist climate of Ireland and spent several years in Algeria, Egypt and Italy. During this period he became an expert in Arabic literature and a respected poet.
In 1911 Joseph Plunkett returned to Ireland. He developed an interest in the Irish language and joined the Gaelic League. Soon he was included in the literally cycle around Thomas MacDonagh, who became his tutor in learning Gaelic. A close and productive friendship between Plunkett and MacDonagh emerged. Together they edited a periodical magazine, The Irish Review, and in 1914 they founded the Irish Theatre in Dublin.
Joseph Plunkett joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and was founding member of the Irish Volunteer Force (IVF). In 1915 the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) sent him to Germany to keep an eye on Sir Roger Casement and his self-appointed attempts to gain German support for an Irish uprising. When Plunkett met Casement the latter was in sackcloth and ashes over his failure to organise the Irish prisoners of war in an Irish Brigade. Together they tried a different approach. Instead of an Irish Brigade Joseph Plunkett asked material support from Germany, which was granted. Germany promised to send arms and ammunition to Ireland. This transport would not only failed, but had also almost blown the secrecy of the Easter Rising.
After his visit to Germany Joseph Plunkett went to the United States of America to inform the Clan na Gael about the ongoing operations. Once returned in Ireland he was included in the Supreme Council and the Military Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) in 1915. The same year he met Grace Gifford, the sister-in-law of Tomas MacDonagh. They fell in love and Grace picked the wedding date: Easter Sunday 1916.
In the build-up of the Easter Rising Joseph's physical condition deteriorated rapidly. Days before the planned uprising he was admitted to the hospital and underwent an emergency operation. Due to this the intended marriage was postponed, but when the Easter Rising started on Easter Monday he manned his post in the General Post Office (GPO) and signed the Poblacht na hÉireann.
During the Easter Rising Plunkett, due to his condition assisted by Michael Collins, was in charge of the defence of Dublin's city centre. Considering the fact that the Easter Rising continued for five days and the limitations in number, equipment and training of the rebels in relation of the virtually unlimited resources of their opponent both friend and foe agree that he had done an excellent job.
After the surrender Joseph Mary Plunkett, with his neck still bandaged, was transferred to Kilmainham Gaol and sentenced to death. Just hours before his execution on 4 May 1916 he married Grace Gifford in the prison chapel.