1/ Easter Monday morning, 1916, Margaret Skinnider account #doingmybit1916 ‘I was sent [from Liberty Hall]on my bicycle to scout the city & report if troops from any of the barracks were stirring. They were not. When I returned to report ..I got my first glimpse of Padraic Pearse

2/ ..he was a tall man, over 6 feet, with broad shoulders slightly stooped from long hours as a student & writer. But he had a soldierly bearing, very cool & determined. Thomas MacDonagh was also there ...he had given me a fine revolver. It would be one of my proudest possessions

3/if I had it now, but it was confiscated by the British. I was next detailed as a dispatch rider for the St Stephens Green Command. Again I was sent out to scout, this time for Commandant Mallin. If I did not find the military moving I was to remain at the end of the Green until

4/ our men came. There were no soldiers .. only one policeman doing nothing. He paid no attention to me. I was only a girl on a bicycle. This chap stood idly by and was the last policeman I saw until the Rising was over ... they seem to vanish from the streets. #doigmybit1916

5/It was a great moment for me, as I stood there, when between the budding beaches of the trees, I caught sight of men in dark green uniforms coming along in... to take up their positions in and about the Green. At last all the men were standing ready. ..The revolution had begun.

6/As soon as our men were in position I rode off towards the Grand Canal to learn if British troops were leaving Beggars Bush or Portobello barracks. Everything was quiet. On my return I found our men entrenching themselves in St Stephen’s Gr. Motor cars & drays were commandeered

7/to form a barricade.Much to the bewilderment of the occupants the men in green uniforms would signal them to stop.Except in one instance they did so. One drayman refused his cart & persisted in his refusal not believing when our men said it was war.He was shot. # #doingmybit1916

8/Commandant Mallin gave me my first dispatch to carry to headquarters at the GPO. As I crossed O’Connell St I had to ride through crowds of people who had gathered to hear Padraic Pearse read the proclamation of the republic at the foot of Nelson’s Pillar.I delivered my dispatch

9/ & was given another to take to Commandant Mallin. The soldiers from Portobello barracks were sent out twice on Monday to attack our position. The first was at noon ... [but] they were fired on from the roof of Davy’s public house ... a number of soldiers fell. #doingmybit1916

10/at 6 o clock that evening on my way back from the GPO ..I noticed two persons hurrying away from the Green.These were councillor Partridge and the countess.They came to a halt just ahead of me. Then I saw the British soldiers coming up Harcourt St.The countess stood motionless

11/waiting... She was a lieutenant in the Irish Volunteers, & in her officers uniform and black hat with great plumes, looked most impressive. She raised her gun to her shoulder .. & took aim. The shots [Partridge also fired] rang out ...I saw two officers leading the column drop