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1916 Portraits and Lives: John MacBride

John MacBride (1865–1916), born in Westport, and a leading figure in the IRB in Co. Mayo. In 1896 he emigrated to South Africa, organising an Irish Transvaal Brigade to fight with the Boers in 1899. Afterwards he moved to Paris, where he married Maude Gonne. When they separated in 1906 he returned to Ireland and resumed his work with the IRB. Not involved with the planning for the Easter rising, he stumbled on it by accident and fought as adjutant to Thomas MacDonagh in Jacob’s factory. He was executed on 5 May 1916.

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John MacBride's biography is taken from the book 1916 Portraits and Lives published by the Royal Irish Academy. 100 prints of the 42 portraits and 3 scenes from the book, signed and numbered by the artist David Rooney, are available to order while quantities last. The original portraits from the book have been acquired for the State Collection by the OPW and will be on exhibit in 2016 at Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin. Read more 1916 biographies.

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