A memorial will be unveiled in Dublin today to commemorate The O'Rahilly, the first of the 1916 Easter Rising leaders to be killed and the only one to die in action.
The colourful Michael Joseph Rahilly, who styled himself "The O'Rahilly" in the early 1900s, was shot on the last day of the Rising as he led a charge against an army barricade on Moore Street, Dublin.
He was leading 12 volunteers from the GPO to set up another garrison at the end of Moore Street when he was fatally wounded.
As he lay dying in a doorway, he wrote a note to his wife. The contents of that letter are reproduced on the memorial that has been erected on the site where he died, on O'Rahilly Parade, off Moore Street.
The text reads:
"Written after I was shot -
Darling Nancy I was shot leading a rush up Moore Street and took refuge in a doorway. While I was there I heard the men pointing out where I was and made a bolt for the laneway I am in now.
I got more than one bullet I think. Tons and tons of love dearie to you and the boys and to Nell and Anna. It was a good fight anyhow.
Please deliver this to Nannie O'Rahilly, 40 Herbert Park, Dublin. Goodbye Darling."
The limestone and bronze memorial was sculpted by Shane Cullen and will be unveiled by O'Rahilly's daughter-in-law, Blathnaid Uí Rathaille, at noon today.
O'Rahilly was 41 when he was killed. He left behind five children. A sixth had died in infancy.
His great-grandson, Mark Price, said O'Rahilly was not as well known as leaders such as Pearse and Connolly but he had played a very significant part in the Rising and had been an early advocate of the armed struggle.
O'Rahilly convened the meeting at Wynn's Hotel on November 11th, 1913, at which it was decided to form the Irish Volunteers.
