An Exploration of The Role of Nursing in The 1916 Easter Rising

Background With the 100th Anniversary of The Easter 1916 fast approaching it seems appropriate carry out an extensive triangulated archival research to actually ascertain the role of nurses and midwives during the hostilities... [ view full abstract ]

Background
With the 100th Anniversary of The Easter 1916 fast approaching it seems appropriate carry out an extensive triangulated archival research to actually ascertain the role of nurses and midwives during the hostilities of Easter Week 1916. The authors have proceeded to do their research with the aim of revitalise the memories of nurses who risked their lives during the hostilities of Easter in pursuit of providing nursing care under fire sometimes

Aim and objectives of the study
The aims of and objectives of the study were to identify from triangulating archival sources the names of actual nurse's who played active nursing and other roles during the hostilities and to tell their stories.

Methods
The study is on-going and involves accessing a wide range of archival sources attempting to corroborate accounts of individual nurses activities during the hostilities of Easter for multiple sources.

Findings
Initials findings show that close on 100 nurses and ward orderlies/nursing care assistants from Ireland, Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia were active in ministering to the wounded during the hostilities in 1916. Their narratives and varied and most intriguing - witness statements, newspaper reports, photographic images, books, military archival material are serving to create a vivid little known images of the nursing activities that happened during that historic week in Dublin past. A interesting finding is that the first Trinity College Dublin School of Nursing Midwifery Building at the Trinity Centre in St. James turns out to have been the Nurses Homes of the old South Dublin Union in 1916 and became the Headquarters of the 4th Battalion of The Irish Volunteers during the Week, a site of fierce fighting where Cathal Brugha WTCosgrave and the executed Rising leader Ceannt fought side by side.

Conclusions and Implications
This research shows that nursing and midwifery personnel played significant during the Rebellion in varied roles and this is worthy of dissemination, publication and remembrance. Initial findings from this research has also featured in the media on national radio, in national and regional newspapers and also on a very popular Irish America website irishcentral.com.