IRB votes to fight at ‘earliest date’; those who perished are honoured in Dublin

A daily notebook, Monday to Friday, recalling the events of the day 100 years ago, leading to the Easter Rising, and marking the commemorations this spring.

January 1st, 1916

The war casts a heavy pall. The Irish Times reports a quiet New Year's Eve: "Rain fell at times during the dying hours of the year 1915, It seemed as if this year of strife was weeping as it passed away . . . The number of people who stayed out of doors until 12 o'clock had passed was not many. Those who did so were mostly thoughtless youths accustomed to usher in the New Year as noisily as possible.

“After 12 o’clock some of them gathered as usual in Christchurch Place there to await the hour... When 12 o’clock came it came almost unperceived. The bells did not ring this New Year’s morn; there was the distant sound of a few sirens, the faint striking of some public clocks, and 1916 had crept into being unknown and untried.”

LONDON –- Home Secretary Sir John Simon (right) resigns from the cabinet in opposition to compulsory military service. Reports of heavy fighting in Mesopotamia. The loss of warship Natal in the Moray Firth in Scotland costs several hundred lives. Austria issues an explanation to US over sinking of passenger ship Ancona. There is an issue about whether the Austrian submarine captain had allowed enough time for civilians to disembark. DUBLIN – The Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) Supreme Council meets in Clontarf Town Hall and votes to "fight at the earliest possible date" . "I was satisfied that the military committee had already fixed a day for the Rising," writes Diarmuid Lynch, member of the council.

The Dublin Metropolitan Police raids homes of Constance Markievicz (right) and others in Dublin, and seizes printing press and type.

In Clare, Michael, Austin and Patrick Brennan, William and John Ringrose and Joseph Gallagher are charged by the Royal Irish Constabulary with unlawful assembly.

In Cork, Irish Volunteers establish an independent postal and communications service to counteract seizure by British of correspondence.

“Successful” recruitment meeting in Charleville.

Dick Whittington and his Cat continues its strong run at the Gaiety.

Switzer’s advertises Monday’s annual sale: “Everything in the warehouse reduced . . . Ladies’ Coats - Ostrich and Marabout feathers at half price, 5/- to 30/-; Blouse bargains – 25 dozen coloured British Silk Shirts in a variety of Stripes. Usual Price 12/11, Sale 10/11.”

There will be a reading by the Defence Forces of the roll of honour of those volunteers who died in the 1916 Rising, followed by a flag raising ceremony, at Dublin Castle.