PROFILE Michael Mallin (left) and Darragh Gannon at the National Museum of Ireland. STEVE HUMPHREYS MICHAEL MALLIN ‘I am prepared’ Darragh Gannon on the Commandant who claimed to be a mere foot soldier at the St Stephen’s Green garrison HE words, ‘I am prepared’, SNAPSHOT were among the last written by Michael Mallin to his MICHAEL MALLIN wife Agnes hours before Born: 1 December 1874, Dublin his execution. Lightly-worn T within an emotional final Educated: Denmark Street NS letter, they are nonetheless thought Affiliation: Irish Socialist Party/ provoking, for an assessment of Michael Irish Citizen Army Mallin’s 1916 Rising is essentially a question of preparation, indeed questions. Career: Soldier, weaver, trade Was Michael Mallin organisationally unionist prepared as Chief of Staff of the Irish Died: 8 May 1916, Kilmainham Jail Citizen Army? Was he militarily prepared as Commandant of the St Stephen’s Green garrison? Was Mallin personally prepared Shelbourne Hotel, the dominant building to face death after the Rising? overlooking the garrison, leaving the Born in Dublin, Mallin joined the British rebels fatally exposed. Machine gun fire Army Royal Scots Fusiliers at 15 in 1889. from British positions in the hotel had, by He served as a drummer for the majority Tuesday, forced the rebels into the nearby of his time in uniform (1891-1902), and Royal College of Surgeons from where they saw military action in India. On his return surrendered that Sunday. Mallin, on the to Ireland he became secretary of the miscalculation of both garrison numbers Silk Weavers’ Union and a member of the and military tactics, was unprepared for ITGWU. the battle. Mallin was appointed as Irish Citizen Michael Mallin was sentenced to death Army Chief of Staff by James Connolly in by field court martial on 5 May 1916. October 1914. He had much to recommend Unlike Patrick Pearse, he had clearly not him. Under his leadership, the ICA became prepared psychologically for this eventuality. a much more disciplined body than before, During his trial Mallin denied holding with members committing to regular, any commission in the ICA; having prior timely drill sessions. Countess Markievicz knowledge of plans for a Rising; or being joined in several training exercises. Never in the confidence of James Connolly. He as well armed as the Irish Volunteers, claimed to have been a mere foot soldier in St the ICA availed of Mallin’s contacts in Stephen’s Green, acting under the command Richmond Barracks to secure rifles, of Countess Markievicz during Easter Week. later joining the Volunteers in shooting Brian Hughes, his biographer, has competitions. His military strategies and termed his misrepresentations a tactics evidenced flexible preparation. He “particularly dishonourable” attempt to joined Connolly in delivering lectures on avoid the firing squad. The distress of street fighting and defensive warfare but leaving his wife and four, soon to be five, also illustrated the advantages of guerrilla children to face into life without a husband warfare in a number of articles. and father, may have accounted for Michael Mallin was appointed Mallin’s uncharacteristic behaviour. Commandant of the St Stephen’s Green garrison. Countess Markievicz became Dr Darragh Gannon, UCD, is his second-in-command later on Monday. currently Curatorial Researcher Their objective was to secure the Green. to the National Museum of On Mallin’s orders the rebels cleared it of Ireland’s ‘Proclaiming a Republic: civilians and dug defensive trenches at its the 1916 Rising’ exhibition four entrances. He declined to take the 14 | Irish Independent 1916 Collection Irish Independent I Thursday 4 February 2016.