Born in Galway in 1881, Eamonn Ceannt was a founder of the Irish Volunteers. He collected weapons in the successful Howth gun-running operation of 1914. He had an interest in Irish culture, especially in Irish language and history. He was also a musician and a talented uileann piper. He was the commander of the Fourth Battalion of Irish Volunteers during the 1916 Rising and took control of the South Dublin Union (St. James’s Hospital). He was executed on the 8th of May 1916.

WHO WAS EAMONN CEANNT

Eamonn Ceannt was born in Glenamaddy, County Galway. He was educated by the Christian Brothers' and graduated from University College, Dublin before joining the administrative staff of Dublin Corporation. In 1900 Ceannt joined the Central Branch of the Gaelic League which also numbered Padraig Pearse and Douglas Hyde among its members. Ceannt was an active promoter of Irish music, a fine uileann piper and founder of the Dublin Piper's Club.Ceannt joined Sinn Fein and the IRB in 1908 and in November, 1913 he was appointed to the Provisional Committee of the newly formed Irish Volunteers whose object was: 'To secure and maintain the rights and liberties common to all the people of Ireland; To train, discipline, arm and equip a body of Irish Volunteers for the above purpose; and to unite for this purpose Irish men of every creed and of every party and class'. 

More about Eamonn Ceannt

Personal lifeIn June 1905, in a

ceremony conducted in Irish, Ceannt married Áine O'Brennan. Their son Ronán was born in June 1906. Áine Ceannt later founded the White Cross to help the families impoverished by British actions or the loss of their breadwinners in the War of Independence.

PERSONAL LIFE

EASTER RISINGSometime around 1913 he joined the 

Irish Republican Brotherhood, and later was one of the founding members of the Irish Volunteers. As such he was important in the planning of the Easter Rising of 1916, being one of the original members of the Military Committee and thus one of the seven signatories of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic. He was made commandant of the 4th Battalion of the Volunteers, and during the Rising was stationed at the South Dublin Union and the Marrowbone Lane Distillery, with more than 100 men under his command, notably his second-in-command Cathal Brugha, and W. T. Cosgrave. His unit saw intense fighting at times during the week, but surrendered when ordered to do so by his superior officer Patrick Pearse.

Ceannt was held in Kilmainham Gaol until his execution by firing squad on 8 May 1916, aged 34.

LegacyGalway City's Ceannt Station, the main bus

and rail station in his native county of Galway, is named in his honour, as well as Éamonn Ceannt Park in Dublin. Eamonn Ceannt Tower in Ballymun, which was demolished in 2005, was also named after him.

LEGACY

His working hours were spent as a clerk in the City Treasurer’s office while every moment of his spare time was devoted to the great ideal of independence for Ireland. He was recognized as one of the best teachers of Irish and he had music, his native music especially, in his soul. He was also a good athlete and in the year 1908 he was a member of a party of Irish athletes visiting Rome for the Jubilee celebrations in honour of His Holiness Pope Pius X. While there he was invited, as a piper, to play before the Pope. 

Eamonn Ceannt Hobbies

In November 1913 Eamonn Ceannt joined the Irish Volunteers, he quickly rose in their ranks. He led his men of the 4th Dublin Battalion to Howth for the famous gund Running manoeuvre. He was also present a week later when the Volunteers landed a 2nd consignment of guns at Kilcoole, County Wicklow. 

When Eamonn Ceannt Joined The Iv

Married to Áine O’Brennan, they had a son Rónán. Ceannt’s brother William, was a sergeant-major in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers (British army) stationed in Fermoy, Co Cork.

Áine Ceannt later founded the White Cross to help families impoverished by war.

It is said that during the fighting in the South Dublin Union Éamonn Ceannt remained calm and brave at a position his men held until learning of the surrender on Sunday.

He faced the firing-squad at Kilmainham Gaol on May 8, 1916.

Galway City’s Ceannt Station in his native Galway, as well as Éamonn Ceannt Park in Dublin and Éamonn Ceannt Tower in Ballymun were named after him.

Who was Eamonn Ceannt Married To

By ABDUL ANTONIO