Dublin Burning: The Easter Rising From Behind the Barricades

by W.J. Brennan-Whitmore

Dublin Burning is a vivid, clear-eyed account of the 1916 Rising and is the most complete account we have from a senior participant. No other senior Volunteer figure has left a similar memoir of Easter Week. Commandant W.J. Brennan-Whitmore was officer commanding the Volunteer position at the head of North Earl Street, an outworking of the GPO garrison. Its purpose was to delay and frustrate any attempt by the British to deploy reinforcements coming from Amiens Street railway station (now Connolly). Commandant Brennan-Whitmore and his men held this position for over seventy-two hours until forced out by British artillery. He and his troops attempted to retreat northwards through the slums, hoping to reach the safety of the suburbs. But he and his men were not Dubliners and were unfamiliar with the city. They were captured in a tenement where they had taken refuge and were interned in Frongoch in Wales until 1917. Brennan-Whitmore’s book is a unique document, one of the most valuable accounts of the Rising available to us.

Genres: History

162 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Commandant William James Brennan-Whitmore

Reviews

[Differengenera · Rating 4 out of 5]

does what the title says, brennan-whitemore's account is vivid and insightful, few interesting moments not in more commonly circulated accounts. his politics are very griffithite so his judgements comes with that bias. bizarre and v funny digression in which he insists connolly never spoke to the IRB and he did in fact go for a three-day walk

[Colin Parry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read which gave the viewpoint of someone other than from the experiences of the leaders of the Easter week. A fascinating account of life in the thick of the action. No glory or poetry, just an honest account.

[Míceál Ó Gealbháin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read. If you are interested in the Easter Rising of 1916 you should read this book. I would give this book 6 stars if I could.

[James N. Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest Account of the Rising

If you are interested in digging a little deeper into Iriish history, you will without question find this "report" interesting.

[Gary Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A succinct and to the point memoir of the rising. A very interesting read.

[Lysergius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent.