MacDermott, Seán

MacDermott, Seán ( Seán MacDiarmada MacDermott) (1884–1916), a leader of the rising of 1916 and a signatory of the proclamation with which it began. MacDermott was born in Leitrim, and worked as a barman in Belfast, where he joined the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He moved from Catholic constitutionalism towards republicanism, joining the Dungannon clubs and later (at the instigation of Bulmer Hobson and Denis McCullough) the Irish Republican Brotherhood. MacDermott was an enthusiastic recruit to Fenianism and—as secretary and a member of the executive—he wielded enormous influence within its ranks. He was a co‐founder and (for a time) the editor of Irish Freedom, which was Fenian in its sympathies. In 1915 he was recruited to the Military Council of the IRB, and was intimately involved with the planning of what became the Easter Rising. He tried hard to persuade pragmatists like Eoin MacNeill to facilitate his plans: he helped to forge the ‘Castle Document’ which purported to be a British scheme for the suppression of the Irish Volunteers. In the end, however, it was a minority of hard‐liners who rose against the British on Easter Monday, 24 April 1916. MacDermott fought in the GPO building until Pearse's surrender on 29 April. He faced a British firing squad on 12 May, and was the last of the rebel leaders to be executed. MacDermott had a passion for conspiracy and intrigue, which was facilitated by a gift for friendship and personal charisma: he was a tireless and experienced organizer. He had a critical impact upon the design of the Rising; and—through his protégé, Michael Collins—he exercised an influence on the Irish revolution from beyond the grave.

Alvin Jackson