Easter Rising: The British Recovery 26–28 April 1916

The British authorities in Dublin were aware a rising was planned for Easter Monday, 1916, under the cover of ‘demonstrations’ planned by the paramilitary Irish Volunteers. Their fears were allayed when Volunteer leader Eoin MacNeill announced the cancellation of the demonstrations, but a faction led by Padraig Pearse, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, decided to proceed regardless. Once the British realized their error, mobilization was rapid. While the rebels had captured a number of buildings in the city centre, crucially, they had failed to occupy Dublin Castle, the railway stations or the ports. From 25 April, British troops flooded in through Kingstown Harbour, by rail, and from barracks to the west of the city. Many British casualties were inflicted by rebel positions overlooking Mount Street Bridge, they also encountered fierce resistance at Liffey Quays, but by the 28 April rebel positions in the centre were surrounded, isolated and under bombardment.