Talk:James Connolly

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[edit] Irish socialist

Surely the Irish socialist is by far the better known of the two, and ought to be the primary meaning on Wikipedia. To suggest otherwise is US-centric. PatGallacher 12:25, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

As nobody has responded to this suggested change in around 28 hours I will carry it out. PatGallacher 16:21, 9 March 2006 (UTC)


The man was all shot through that came to day into the Barrack Square

And a soldier I, I am not proud to say that we killed him there

They brought him from the prison hospital and to see him in that chair

I swear his smile would, would far more quickly call a man to prayer

Maybe, maybe I don't understand this thing that makes these rebels die

Yet all men love freedom and the spring clear in the sky

I wouldn't do this deed again for all that I hold by

As I gazed down my rifle at his breast but then, then a soldier I.

They say he was different, kindly too apart from all the rest.

A lover of the poor-his wounds ill dressed.

He faced us like a man who knew a greater pain

Than blows or bullets ere the world began: died he in vain

Ready, Present, and him just smiling, Christ I felt my rifle shake

His wounds all open and around his chair a pool of blood

And I swear his lips said, "fire" before my rifle shot that cursed lead

And I, I was picked to kill a man like that, James Connolly


A great crowd had gathered outside of Kilmainham

Their heads all uncovered, they knelt to the ground.

For inside that grim prison

Lay a great Irish soldier

His life for his country about to lay down.

He went to his death like a true son of Ireland

The firing party he bravely did face

Then the order rang out: Present arms and fire

James Connolly fell into a ready-made grave

The black flag was hoisted, the cruel deed was over

Gone was the man who loved Ireland so well

There was many a sad heart in Dublin that morning

When they murdered James Connolly-. the Irish rebel

[edit] Work Required

This article is in need of a lot of work.

  • No sources/references given.
  • Nothing about his (lengthy) time in a America.
  • Very little on his contribution to Irish politics.

Also, is it right to have him in the Scottish/British soldiers category when it is merely an allegation? GiollaUidir 22:06, 12 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Picture

Can someone put up a picture on this article please. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Exiledone (talk • contribs)

[edit] Easter Rising Role

I came to this page looking for something about Connolly's role in the Easter Rising but it seemed to jump pretty much into his execution from his early life. Does anyone know enough about it to write something? because I don't... Helen-Eva 10:02, 24 April 2007 (UTC)

Surely there's a sufficiency, between the Easter Rising and Irish Citizen Army articles, to cobble something together? --Orange Mike 17:00, 24 April 2007 (UTC)

I think you're probably right, but as I hadn't heard of him until yesterday, I'll defer to someone with a bit more knowledge do the cobbling! Helen-Eva 08:24, 25 April 2007 (UTC)

Well, bless you for thinking of it! I recommend reading a good biography of the man, as his is one of the most inspiring stories in Ireland's history, even though (like most of them) it ends tragically. --Orange Mike 18:10, 25 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Years of service : mistake ?

He died in 1916 but years of service are supposed to be 1913-1923. Is it a mistake ? Poppypetty 22:46, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Stonebreakers yard

Why in the world do you not mention the Stonebreakers yard by name. Also missing is the commemorative cross that is placed in the spot that Connolly was shot. All of the others were executed at one end of the yard, Connolly's is on the opposite end. This cross, which I took a pictue of while lying on my stomach in the yard in 2000, became part of a photography and poetry exhibit I did about Kilmainham and Glasnevin shown in Dublin and New York, hangs above my bed now.

[edit] Birthplace

Whilst it seems generally accepted that Connolly was born in Edinburgh, the 1911 Census returns show that he gives his place of birth as Co Monaghan. Millbanks (talk) 14:40, 8 December 2007 (UTC)

As does the 1901 census. But see today's Irish Times letters page (sorry, no link, requires subscription for online version) - his parents' census return from Edinburgh in 1881 lists him as being born there. BastunBaStun not BaTsun 15:11, 12 December 2007 (UTC)

Thanks. Yes, I saw the letter. Interesting. Millbanks (talk) 18:24, 12 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Religion

What's with the comparatively huge section on religion (compared to socialism, politics, revolution)? Propose cutting it unless there are objections... BastunBaStun not BaTsun 15:08, 12 December 2007 (UTC)

Agreed. Per the note and template I added, the editor who created this section seems to be depending on original texts to convey Connolly's views on religion. (And other people's interpretation of those views.) If the question of Connolly's religious beliefs is relevant (and I'm not convinced it is) then this should be imparted with a SUMMARY based on those texts. Rather than a verbatim copy and paste of "quotes". Wikipedia is intended to be an encyclopedic interpretation of available texts, facts, quotes, comments, etc. Rather than a verbatim source for them. (Leaving it up to the reader to trawl and interpret.) I'd say summarise away. If you want to create a "sandbox" to do it,I'll gladly chip in to help summarise. Guliolopez (talk) 15:38, 12 December 2007 (UTC)
It should be transwiki'ed except for comment on the last-minute confession, and Pearse's comment on that.86.42.194.109 (talk) 20:31, 12 December 2007 (UTC)
I think the question of his religious views is relevant and important, but not to the degree that that section makes it seem. His religious views (Catholic or otherwise) are certainly not more important than his views on, for instance, socialism. The section should be trimmed, though not deleted in its entirety. Whatever remains, of course, must be referenced. ---RepublicanJacobiteThe'FortyFive' 21:40, 12 December 2007 (UTC)
The deathbed confession is a classic of its sort; was he insecure or just anxious to ensure his future fame within a Catholic-nationalist movement?Red Hurley (talk) 22:18, 15 December 2007 (UTC)
Why do you think that the section concerning his religious views ought to be "trimmed down", perhaps the other sections need to be expanded? His religious views are important, especially given that his most ardent supporters (today) are usually secular liberals or socialists and if wikipedia.org is to have any useful function, it ought to be to educate. Unfortunately the man has been appropriated by various groups and historians, much of what is in the public domain concerning Connolly's life and views are due largely from C. Desmond Greaves' Selected Works, which although interesting, is not a complete or even entirely accurate reflection of the whole man. Also, the problem with a summary is, who will summarize? The original texts allow the reader to 'make up their own minds', without depending on the objectivity of others. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.1.229.15 (talk) 20:24, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Last to be executed?

We can split hairs here but Roger Casement was the last. Also the "uproar" on each side of the Atlantic is a bit POV; it was not universal.Red Hurley (talk) 22:18, 15 December 2007 (UTC)

Yes, only his supporters were in an uproar. A soldier wouldn't mind being shot in a chair if he was dying for a cause.86.42.199.40 (talk) 21:07, 23 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Recent editing

Recent editing has resulted in the article becoming somewhat jumbled. There are two descriptions of his execution which don't differ from each other significantly. Perhaps the person editing this section could consider finishing what he's been doing so that we can judge whether it's actually an improvement. --Mia-etol (talk) 20:28, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

I've dropped 'em a friendly note already. --Orange Mike | Talk 21:01, 5 June 2008 (UTC)