James Connolly was an Irish republican and socialist leader, becoming one of the Marxist theorists of the day. Very deeply involved in socialism and nationalist causes throughout his adult life, Connolly was the founding editor of The Socialist newspaper and was among the founders of the Socialist Labour Party which split from the Social Democratic Federation in 1903.
During the Easter Uprising, he was badly injured and was told that he had one or two days to live. Despite this, the British continued with the execution order. As he was unable to stand before the firing squad, he was carried to the courtyard on a stretcher, tied to a chair and then shot.
This was a turning point of the revolution, as the news of the executions was not well received. Even in Britain. The prime minister ordered that no more executions were to take place and it brought much sympathy to the Irish Nationalism cause.
The statue today, Connolly standing before a plow with stars, is outside Liberty Hall, the offices of the Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union building. read more