Joseph Mary Plunkett was the son of Horace Plunkett, a Papal Count. He was born in Dublin in 1887. If there was one renaissance man involved in the Easter Rising it was Joe Plunkett.\nHe was also the youngest signatory of the Proclamation.
\nPlunkett was born at 26 Upper Fitzwilliam Street in one of Dublin’s most affluent districts. Both his parents came from wealthy backgrounds.\nPlunkett contracted tuberculosis (TB) at a young age and spent part of his youth in the warmer climates of the Mediterranean and North Africa.\nThroughout his life, Joseph Plunkett took an active interest in Irish heritage and the Irish language.\nHe studied with Thomas MacDonagh both of who were early members of the Irish Volunteers.
\nPlunkett was one of the original members of the IRB Military Committee that was responsible for planning the Easter Rising, and it was largely his plan that was followed. Shortly before the rising was to begin, Plunkett was hospitalised following a turn for the worse in his health.\nHe did however take his place in the rising in the GPO.\nWhen the Proclamation of Independence was read out by Padraig Pearse in front of a confused crowd at the GPO it had been signed by seven men and Plunkett, at the age of 28, was the youngest of the signatories.
\nAfter fierce and bloody fighting which lasted for six days, the Commander in Chief of the rebels, Padraig Pearse , ordered the rebels to surrender. Plunkett, at the time, had escaped from the GPO and was fighting in Moore Street. After the surrender, he was detained by the British in Kilmainham.
\nOne of the more poignent moments of the rising was the marraige of Joseph Plunkett to Grace Gifford.\nAs Plunkett had been sentanced to execution and awaited his fate, he married Grace in a small chapel in Kilmainham Goal.\nThis marraige was immortalised in the song Grace.
\n\n\nI am very happy I am dying for the glory of God and the honour of Ireland
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Immediately after the ceremony Joseph and Grace were separated. A couple of hours later the couple was allowed to meet again for ten minutes (timed on a watch). Again, there were not given the courtesy of privacy but were guarded by a force of 15 armed soldiers.\nHe was killed alongside Edward Daly, Willy Pearse, and Michael O’ Hanrahan.
\nIn May 2016 a plaque was unveiled at 26 Upper Fitzwilliam Street - the Irish Republican Brotherhood member’s childhood home.
\nJoseph is buried in Arbour Hill Cemetary information on his grave can be found here
\nTake the Kilmainham Gaol tour
\nVisit the Walking rebellion tour
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