1916: Easter Seven Narrated by Brendan Gleeson [DVD]

The 1916 Easter Rising changed the course of Irish history and at the heart of the story of the Rising are the seven men who put their names to the Proclamation of the Irish Republic. By signing the Proclamation each man knew they were committing themselves to bloody rebellion, and in all likelihood signing their own death warrant. "Irishmen and Irishwomen: In the name of God and of the dead generations from which she receives her old tradition of nationhood, Ireland, through us, summons her children to her flag and strikes for her freedom." At midday on Easter Monday, the 24th of April, 1916, Padraig Pearse read these words from the steps of the GPO and declared an Irish Republic free and independent from British rule. The Rising lasted for six short but bloody days, that saw much of Dublin's city centre destroyed, and resulted in the execution of the leaders at the hands of a British firing squad in Kilmainham Gaol. Their deaths would set Ireland on the road to freedom. Now for the first time in 100 years you can see who these men were, what brought them to rebellion and why it is so important to keep their memories alive. This is their story.