One sentence. Tuesday 29th April 2025.

Today’s sentence:

“Elizabeth walked out under a white flag, past those who had died since the killing began on Wednesday, up to the barricades atop Moore Street, where The O’Rahilly had charged and fell.”

Inspiration and Observation:
On Saturday 29th April 1916, the rebels of the Easter Rising surrendered. Nurse Elizabeth O’Farrell walked out of 15 Moore Street, and waving her small white flag, her only protection against the British machine guns, she made her way up to the barricades at the top of Moore Street.

As she passed up the street, she said she saw The O’Rahilly’s hat and revolver lying on the ground, and later that afternoon when she was returning with a message from General Lowe demanding unconditional surrender, she saw the body of The O’Rahilly as he lay dead at Kelly’s Shop.

The O’Rahilly had led his men on a bayonet charge up the street the evening before. He was mortally wounded, and took several hours to die. The O’Rahilly chose to participate in the Rising declaring, “Well I’ve helped to wind up the clock, I might as well hear it strike!”

I have for many years pondered on the words of The O’Rahilly’s father, Richard, who is said to have told his son, “It is only those who do, and are determined to do, all they can, in whatever position in life they are placed, that will succeed in that position or rise out of the bulk.”

Elizabeth was midwife, a gaeilgeoir, a suffragist, and a trade unionist. Elizabeth and the women of Cumann na mBan, made significant contributions to the cause of Irish freedom. Their courage was incredible. We should be more familiar with their names and stories.

The sentence lodged for later use as:
“Elizabeth walked out under a white flag, up Moore Street where The O Rahilly had charged and fell.”

It evolved as:

• “Elizabeth walked out under a white flag, up Moore Street where The O Rahilly had charged and fell to join the others who died since the killing began on Wednesday.”
• “Elizabeth walked out under a white flag, past those who had died since the killing began on Wednesday, up to the barricades atop Moore Street, where The O Rahilly had charged and fell.”