[O'CONNOR, Rory] An original photograph of Rory O'Connor addressing a crowd while standing on the back of a motor car, guarded by republicans. 12 x 8cm. Rare. With a later very large version of...

[O'CONNOR, Rory] An original photograph of Rory O'Connor addressing a crowd while standing on the back of a motor car, guarded by republicans. 12 x 8cm. Rare. With a later very large version of same. Rory O'Connor (1883-1922) born in Dublin and educated at St. Mary's College, Clongowes Wood and UCD, where he graduated in Arts and Engineering. After four years in Canada working as a railway engineer he returned to Ireland at the request of the I.R.B. and was wounded in the Easter Rising of 1916. He was interned for a time and became close to Michael Collins. During the War of Independence O'Connor became Director of Engineering of the Irish Republican Army. He rejected the Treaty, became Chairman of the Military Council of the I.R.A., and commanded the garrison in the Four Courts. Under pressure from Britain, the government ordered the army to commence shelling the building and O'Connor was captured. Along with Liam Mellowes, Richard Barrett and Joe McKelvey he was executed on 8th December, 1922 in reprisal for the assassination of Sean Hales, T.D. The executions were the responsibility of Kevin O'Higgins, Minister for Home Affairs, at whose wedding O'Connor had been best man. Photographs of Rory O'Connor are very rare. (2)

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