“Did they know, I wonder, what awaited them?” That’s the question that always comes to mind here at the Easter Rising Plaque. You are standing before a memorial to courage, a testament to the tumultuous Easter Rising of 1916. This plaque, commemorating the men and women who took part in the uprising, stands as a silent sentinel to their bravery and sacrifice. One name in particular always stands out to me: Gerald Keogh. A young man, a shop assistant, just 22 years old. His life was cut tragically short on the second day of the Rising. Imagine him, a former Fianna member, cycling back to the GPO from Larkfield House. He carried a dispatch from Patrick Pearse, a message of defiance. But his journey was abruptly ended near this very spot. Shots rang out, fired by a soldier stationed at Trinity College, perhaps by an Australian-born soldier named Mick McHugh. Gerald Keogh, the youngest of four brothers who took part in the Rising, died here. His story, a poignant reminder of the human cost of the fight for Irish independence, is forever etched in the memory of this city.
Irish Mercantile Marine Memorial Stone
In a time of global conflict, Ireland stood apart, a small island nation clinging to neutrality. Yet, the Irish Mercantile