Audio: Thomas MacDonagh's Court-Martial Speech Read By Paul Farrell

This 78rpm recording was issued on the British Beltona label, and the disc's label specifies that it was "made specially for and only obtainable from the Gramophone Stores, Johnson's Court, Grafton St., Dublin."

The actual recording is of actor Paul Farrell's reading of Thomas MacDonagh's court-martial speech with incidental music by J. J. O'Beirne.

Tipperary born Thomas MacDonagh (1878-1916) was one of the leaders of the Easter Rising and was leader of the battalion at the Jacob's Biscuit Factory (now the site of the Irish National Archives). MacDonagh's saw little combat during the Rising. After their surrender on April 30th, MacDonagh was court martialed and executed on May 3, 1916. MacDonagh's court martial speech was widely distributed; however its authenticity has been debated since the transcript of his trial did not record the speech.

We believe the Paul Farrell reciting the speech is the actor that was born in Dublin in 1893. He maintained a long film career, perhaps most remembered for his role in A Clockwork Orange.

Further information:

• Thomas MacDonagh from Easter 1916
• Speech by Thomas MacDonagh
• Speech of Thomas McDonagh at his Court Martial memorised from notes taken by one of the courtmartial