Éamonn Ceannt - 1916 Poster

Rare Éamonn Ceannt 1916 commemorative poster.
Éamonn Ceannt  was born, Edward Thomas Kent, on the 21st September 1881 , and was an Irish republican known for his prominent role in the 1916 Easter Rising , for which he was executed by firing squad on the 8th of May following the rebellion.

He was born in the village of Ballymoe in County Galway and, as a young man of 17, he took part in the 1798 centenary commemoration which fueled his interest in Irish Nationalism. Subsequently, in 1899, Ceannt joined the central branch of the Gaelic League. Through the League he first met many of the men who would later play big roles in the Rising, including Patrick Pearse and Eoin MacNeill. He became an ardent nationalist  and had a deep interest in the Irish language which was fostered in the purposes of the League  aimed at reviving Irish culture, language, music, dancing, poetry, literature and history. Ceannt became an elected member of the governing body and by 1905 he was teaching Irish language classes in branch offices of the league. In February 1900 Ceannt, along with Edward Martyn had already founded Cumann na bPíobairí (The Pipers Club) and Ceannt's musical ability earned him a gold medal at the 1906 Oireachtas.

In 1907 Ceannt joined the Dublin central branch of Sinn Féin, and over the following years he became increasingly determined to bring about an Independent Ireland. In 1912 he was sworn into the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) by Seán Mac Diarmada. In May of 1915, the IRB's Military Council, consisting of Joseph Plunkett and Seán Mac Diarmada, as well as Ceannt, began making plans for a rebellion during Britain's World War 1 diffuclties. Ceannt was one of the seven men to sign the Proclamation of the Irish Republic and had been appointed Director of Communications in the Volunteers. He was also made commandant of the 4th Battalion of the Volunteers, and during the Rising was stationed at the South Dublin Union where Ceannt's Battalion repelled many strong assaults by British troops during heavy fighting. Ultimately only surrendering following Pearse's order to do so. He was court martialled and sentenced to death and subsequently transferred to Kilmainham Gaol where he was executed by firing squad on the 8th May 1916. 

Just a few hours before his execution he wrote the following extract from a handwritten note:
" I leave for the guidance of other Irish Revolutionaries who may tread the path which I have trod this advice, never to treat with the enemy, never to surrender at his mercy, but to fight to a finish...Ireland has shown she is a nation. This generation can claim to have raised sons as brave as any that went before. And in the years to come Ireland will honour those who risked all for her honour at Easter 1916".

Originally printed and published by O'Loughlin, Murphy and Boland, using a photo by Keogh Bros., the text below the photograph simply states: "EAMONN CEANNT , Executed, May 8th, , 1916". This is a stunning reproduction on 210 gsm satin art paper , beautifully mounted on a mottled green suede background and set behind glass in a handmade, aged dark mahogany finish frame with a gold gilt sightline.