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Erskine Childers |
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Erskine Childers in 1916 |
| Erskine Childers was born in England. When he was young his father died. Then 5 years later his mother died. Erskine & his brothers and sisters had to go to live with their cousins, the Bartons at Glendalough House. Erskine loved nature and from being outdoors so much he got to know the workers on the estate. He was sent to prep school in England & only returned to Wicklow for holidays. Later he went to university at Cambridge where he studied English and the Classics. He had an interest in writing. He wrote a book called "The Riddle of the Sands". |
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| He loved sailing and owned many boats. He sailed to America. There he fell in love with a beautiful woman called Mary Alden Osgood, "Molly" to her friends. Molly's father was a surgeon in Boston. She was a very special woman because she had lost the power of both her legs in a childhood accident. Molly’s father gave them a sailing boat called the Asgard (which in Norse means Home of The Gods) as a wedding gift, because they both loved sailing. After their marriage they went to live in London, England, where Erskine worked as a clerk in the House Of Commons. Both he and Molly secretly supported freedom for Ireland. |
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| In 1914 he was asked by the organizers of the Rising to smuggle guns into Ireland in the Asgard. At first was afraid to, but Molly convinced him that the Rising needed his support. He, Molly, 2 freedom fighters & 2 fishermen set out for Belgium. The journey took 3 days. They met the German tugboat & transferred the arms. As they made their return journey they sailed through the worst storm on the Irish Sea for 40 years . Their journey took 13 days because of the weight of the guns and the storm. Finally they landed the guns at Howth Co Dublin. |
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Pupils of St Saviour's with the Ascard at Kilmainham |
| The guns and ammunition smuggled to Ireland on the Asgard were used in the Easter Rising of 1916. The Rising was not a success. All of the leaders were imprisoned in Kilmainham Jail and most were executed. But it forced the English to take notice of Ireland's wish for Independence. In 1921 Childers was one of a group who went (along with Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith) to London to negotiate a treaty. Collins signed for a 26 county free state. Others like Childers and De Valera thought they should have held out for a 32 county republic. The Dáil agreed with the Treaty but public opinion was divided. Soon Civil War broke out. |
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| Many families were divided. Family and friends who had fought alongside each other in the 1919 Rising now fought on opposite sides. De Valera fought against Collins. De Valera was in hiding in the Wicklow Mountains. He sent a message to Erskine Childers askinghim to come to see him. Childers called at his old home in Glendalough. While he was there he was betrayed . |
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The Free State Army surrounded Glendalough House and took Erskine prisoner. He was brought to Beggars Bush Barracks in Dublin where he was charged with holding an illegal fire-arm and was sentenced to death. His final request was to see his sons. He asked them to promise not to bear any grudges against his executioners.
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Erskine Hamilton Childers |
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| Was
born in 1905 in London. Erskine was 17 when his father was executed. Like
his father he was educated in England. He followed his fathers interests
in politics and he was elected to Dáil Eireann in 1938. He became Tánaiste
in 1969 and held that position until 1973 when he was elected President.
He died in1974 and was buried in Derralossary
which looks across at Annamoe.
Text by the 5th & 6th class pupils of St. Saviours N. S. |
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by
Jamie 3rd class
by
Kyle 3rd class
by
Cian 6th class
