Patrick Pearse: Born in Dublin in 1879. Pearse immersed himself in Irish culture as a teenager. In 1898 he joined the Executive Committee of the Gaelic League. Pearse produced a prolific amount of literary works in both Irish & English. A strong believer in the value of education he became editor of An Claidheamh Soluis, the Gaelic League’s newspaper. Establishing two schools, Colaiste Eanna & Colaiste Ide, he was devoted to furthering the Irish language. A founder member of the Irish Volunteers and author of the Proclamation of Independence, he commanded the forces that occupied the GPO during the Easter Rising. He was executed on 3 May 1916.