Home > Sean MacDermott

He was born John MacDermott in County Leitrim in 1884, 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 drunkeness, as part of the ongoing reorganization, and he eventually was elected secretary.

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 polioPoliomyelitis ("polio") is a viral paralytic disease. The causative agent, a virus called poliovirus (PV), enters the body orally, infecting the intestinal lining. It may proceed to the blood stream and into the central nervous system causing paralysis an and forced to walk with a cane.

In November, 19131913 is a common year starting on Wednesday. click on link for calendar) Events January-March January 30 House of Lords rejects Irish Home Rule Bill February 1 New York City's Grand Central Station opens as the world's largest train station. February 3 Th MacDermott was one of the original members of the Irish VolunteersThe Irish Volunteers were a paramilitary organization established by Irish Nationalists in 1913 "to secure and maintain the rights and liberties common to the whole people of Ireland", and to enforce the imminent Home Rule Act. The Volunteers were formed, 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 RedmondJohn Edward Redmond ( 1856- 1918) was the leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party from 1900 to 1918. John Redmond was born in County Wexford in Ireland in 1856. A nationalist by birth, whose father had been a nationalist Irish MP he was educated by the Je to take control of the Volunteers, MacDermott never spoke to him again.

In May, 1915Events January 12 The Rocky Mountain National Park is established by an act of Congress. January 12 United States House of Representatives rejects proposal to give women the right to vote. January 13 An earthquake (6. 8 in Richter scale) in Avezzano, Ital, MacDermott was arrested in TuamTuam is a small town in County Galway in the Republic of Ireland. It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city. The town has a strong tradition of football. The Saw Doctors are among the more famous of those originating from th, County GalwayCounty Galway ( Irish: Gaillimh is on the west coast of Ireland. It is in the Irish province of Connacht. The city of Galway is the county's capital. County Galway contains several Gaeltacht areas where the Irish language is still spoken. Surnames found i, 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.

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 and summarily executed by firing squad on May 12.

¹ The form of his name used here, "Sean MacDermott", is a hybrid of the English and Gaelic forms of his name, and for that reason may be considered inaccurate. However, it is also probably the most common form used, so this article has been listed under it. The other common forms should all redirect here.