Sean MacDermott

Sean MacDermott (February 28, 1883 – May 12, 1916) was one of the leaders of the Easter Rising of 1916 in Ireland.

Related Topics:
February 28 - 1883 - May 12 - 1916 - Easter Rising

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He was born John MacDermott in County Leitrim in 1883, though later in life he adopted the Irish form of his name: Sean MacDiarmada1. In 1908 he moved to Dublin, by which time he was already involved in several separatist organizations, including Sinn Fein, and the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). He was soon promoted to the Supreme Council of the IRB upon the recommendation of a senior member who was being removed for excessive drunkenness, as part of the ongoing reorganization, and he eventually was elected secretary.

Related Topics:
County Leitrim - Irish - 1908 - Dublin - Sinn Fein - Irish Republican Brotherhood

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In 1910 he became manager of the radical newspaper "Irish Freedom," which he founded along with Bulmer Hobson and Denis McCullough. He also became a national organizer for the IRB, and was taken under the wing of veteran Fenian Tom Clarke. Indeed over the year the two became nearly inseparable. Shortly thereafter MacDermott was stricken with polio and forced to walk with a cane.

Related Topics:
1910 - Bulmer Hobson - Denis McCullough - Fenian - Tom Clarke - Polio

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In November, 1913 MacDermott was one of the original members of the Irish Volunteers, and continued to work effortlessly to bring that organization under IRB control. MacDermott proved himself to be one of the most radical and Machiavellian members until his death. When his close friend Bulmer Hobson voted to allow the Irish Parliamentary leader John Redmond to take control of the Volunteers, MacDermott never spoke to him again.

Related Topics:
1913 - Irish Volunteers - Machiavellian - John Redmond

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In May, 1915, MacDermott was arrested in Tuam, County Galway, under the Defense of the Realm Act for giving a speech against enlisting into the British Army. He was released in September, where upon he joined the secret Military Committee of the IRB, which was responsible for planning the rising. Indeed it was MacDermott and Clarke who were most responsible for it.

Related Topics:
1915 - Tuam - County Galway - Defense of the Realm Act - British Army

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Being somewhat crippled, MacDermott took little part in the fighting of Easter week, but was stationed at the headquarters in the General Post Office. Following the surrender, he nearly escaped execution by blending in with the large body of prisoners, but was eventually recognized by a British Officer Lee-Wilson (who would himself be killed in retaliation in County Cork on the orders of Michael Collins (Irish leader) during the Anglo-Irish War) and summarily executed by firing squad on May 12 at the age of 33.

Related Topics:
General Post Office - Michael Collins (Irish leader) - Anglo-Irish War

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