Extracts
from
Easter 1916
In 2005 the Parchment published the following article by Stephen P
Maher which tells the fascinating story of his grandfather, Daniel
C Maher, a Dublin solicitor who had a very famous client back
in 1916 – one Patrick Pearse. On Ash Wednesday just before the
Easter Rising, Maher made Padraig Pearse’s last will and testament
as the story here reveals
O
n the Wednesday before Easter in 1916
Patrick Pearse called to see my grandfather
Daniel C Maher at his office in Westland
Row. The Pearse family and the Maher
family had been both friends and
neighbours for many years and indeed Liam (William)
Pearse was a classmate of my grandfather at the Christian
Brothers in Westland Row.
Patrick Pearse was a couple of years older but was a
friend. He wanted to make his will and he also handed my
grandfather a package and asked him to give the package
to his mother if anything happened. Dublin was full of
rumours at that time about a possible insurrection and my
grandfather did specifically ask him what was happening
but Patrick told him that it was best that he didn’t know.
They spoke at length, he made his will and my
grandfather’s only request to him was that Liam should
not be involved, as he knew Liam had never been involved
in the Republican movement as such at that time.
On Easter Sunday from my grandfather’s house on the
Clontarf Road, quite near the stone railway bridge which
passes over the Fairview Park towards Howth, gunfire
could be heard and within a matter of minutes that day, a
British Army machine gun post was put on the bridge and
no-one was allowed pass into the city.
Daniel C Maher was extremely worried as he knew
there was a package in the office and did not know what
the contents were – and he was concerned that if the
26 the Parchment
office was searched, it would be found and he would be
arrested.
Events took over and history knows well what
happened that week in the GPO.
In or about Sunday afternoon, Liam Pearse who lived
in what is now Pearse Square in Dublin heard the gunfire
and decided to walk down what is now Pearse Street
towards Sackville Street (now O’Connell Street) to see
what was happening along with many others, and got
caught in the crossfire.
The only safe place to go was in a side window of
the GPO where he spent the next four or five nights
bandaging wounded Irish volunteers. When the
surrender took place, it is well known that Patrick Pearse
surrendered to the British Army outside Conway’s pub
opposite the Rotunda Hospital in Parnell Street. All of
the wounded and able-bodied men in the GPO, or what
remained of it, were lined up and asked their names.
Of course Liam Pearse gave his name as Liam
Pearse and was immediately presumed to be the
brother of Patrick Pearse, the leader. He was marched
off to Kilmainham Jail where the signatories of the
Proclamation and other leaders were incarcerated and
court-martialled despite the fact that he had no hand, act
or part in the planning of the 1916 Rising.
To the best of my knowledge Patrick Pearse was shot
on or about the 3rd of May 1916 and Liam was executed
on the following day.
Spring 2016 dsba.ie
Stephen P Maher is a partner at O’Mara Geraghty McCourt. In 2008, that firm merged with the practice of Daniel C Maher
Solicitors which was founded by Daniel C Maher in 1905 and was an active practice in Dublin city for over 100 years
Approximately a week later Mrs Pearse called to see
my grandfather and he handed her the package. Having
received it and spoken to him after he had expressed his
deepest sympathy for his old friends, she left the office
and to this date no-one in our firm knows exactly what
was in the package.
Many enquiries were made over the last 90 years
from universities and historians and it was always
presumed by my late grandfather and my father, that
they were poems and writing that he had composed.
The only document that did come into our possession
was the letter Patrick Pearse wrote to his mother on the
morning of his execution.
The original letter is in the Pearse Museum at St
Enda’s in Rathfarnham, Dublin and the only known
copy to my knowledge, was made by my great aunt,
who was a personal friend to the late Senator Margaret
Pearse, sister of Patrick and William.
The letter would appear to give the impression that
Patrick Pearse was not aware that his brother had been
court-martialled and was indeed going to be executed
shortly after himself.
My late father John acted as a trustee of the Pearse
estate for many years along with Eamonn de Barra and
in or about 1969, handed over St Enda’s to the State
according to the terms of the will of the late Senator
Margaret Pearse. The property was received by the
President, Eamon de Valera at that time.
History
Dublin was full
of rumours at
that time about
a possible
insurrection
Souvenir book from St Enda’s
signed by Eamon de Valera
and John Maher
the Parchment 27
This is the
death I
should have
asked for
if God had
given me the
choice of all
deaths – to
die a soldier’s
death for
Ireland and
for freedom
Copy of Patrick Pearse’s Last Letter
Kilmainham Prison
Dublin
3rd May 1916
My dearest mother
I have been hoping up to now that it would be possible
to see you again, but it does not seem possible.
Goodbye dear, dear mother. Through you I say
goodbye to Wow-wow, Willie, Miss Byrne, Miceal,
cousins Maggie and everyone at St Enda’s. I hope and
believe that Willie and the St Enda’s boys will be safe.
I have written two papers about financial affairs
and one about my books, which I want you to get.
With them are a few poems which I want added to
the poems of mine in M.S. on the large bookcase. You
asked me to write a little poem which would seem to
be said by you about me. I have written it and one copy
is at Arbour Hill Barracks with the other papers, and
28 the Parchment
Father Aloysius is taking charge of another copy of it.
I have just received Holy Communion. I am happy
except for the great grief of parting from you. This is
the death I should have asked for if God had given me
the choice of all deaths – to die a soldier’s death for
Ireland and for freedom.
We have done right. People will say hard things of
us now, but later on they will praise us. Do not grieve
for all this, but think of it as a sacrifice which God
asked of me and of you.
Goodbye again, dear, dear mother. May God bless
you for your great love for me and for your great faith,
and may he remember all that you have so bravely
suffered. I hope soon to see papa, and in a little while
we shall be together again – Wow-wow, Willie, Mary,
Brigid and mother, goodbye.
I have not words to tell of my love for you and how
my heart yearns to you all. I will call to you in my
heart at the last moment.
Your son Pat