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Joseph Mary plunkett

There are not that many photos of the 1916 signatory, Joseph Mary Plunkett around; which may seem strange considering his keen interest in photography.

One of the reasons for this is that before travelling to Germany in 1915, to negotiate with the German government on behalf of the IRB, he burnt any photo of himself he could get his hands on. 

In the last three years of his life Plunkett had taken over as editor of the Irish Review and steered its editorial style towards a political journal; he  was joint secretary of the Industrial Peace Committee during the 1913 lockout and strike; he had joined the Irish Volunteers and was a member of their committee, and after the split in 1914 he became director of the Volunteers Military Operations; joined the IRB and became a member of their military council; he travelled incognito to Germany, who were at war with England, and negotiated with their foreign office and Chancellor on behalf of the IRB; he travelled to America to inform the Fenian society (Clan na Gael) of the plans for the rising; published a book of poetry; challenged the British Empire by being instrumental in organising The Rising and taking part in it.

He did all this whilst he was dying of Tuberculosis and suffered many severe bouts of illness which kept him confined to bed for weeks at a time. He read voraciously –on average, a book everyday- and continued to write poetry; acted and co-directed a theatre company.

He was a busy, talented, and courageous man. It’s little wonder James Connolly thought so highly of him –When asked by his son, Roddy Connolly, who the man on the mattress in the GPO was; James Connolly replied, “That’s Joe Plunkett, and he has more courage in his little finger than all the other leaders combined.”