Michael Mallin

Michael Mallin (1874 – 8 May 1916) was an Irish rebel and socialist who took an active role in the 1916 Easter Rising.

Born in Dublin, Mallin was second in command of the Irish Citizen Army under James Connolly and commanded the garrison at St. Stephen's Green in Dublin, with Countess Markievicz as his second in command. He was generally regarded as a brave and competant commander, even though the occupation of the green without occupying the surrounding buildings was certainly utter folly (whether or not this plan was Mallin's is uncertain; regardless he lacked the men he would have needed for such an endeavor). Mallin had enlised in the British army as a boy soldier/drummer boy in his early years and served for many years in India. His experiences there radicalised him against both imperial endeavour and exploitation of the poor. This manifested itself in his becoming a leading official in the silk weavers union upon his return to Ireland and his acceptance of the post of second in command and chief training officer of the Irish Citizen Army (Formed after the 1913 general strike in Dublin to protect workers from the RIC and also from employer funded strike breaking gangs).

Mallin surrendered on Sunday 30 April when ordered to do so by Connolly. At his court-martial he attempted to downplay his involvement. This was understandable as he was a young father of four children and his wife was pregnant with a fifth. However he was convicted and executed by firing squad on 8 May. The prosecutor at his court martial was a Captain Blackadder.

The evening before his execution his family visited and his cell was the scene of utter sadness and desolation as he said goodbye to his wife and young children. He went to his death with his love for Ireland, God and his family on his lips and in his thoughts, as evidenced by his final letters and his dignified behaviour in the Stone Breakers Yard.

Donate to Wikimedia