Famous Namesake

by PJ Brady

‘As a humble workman 

I consider it a great honour 

to be entrusted to do such a heroic job.’ 

These are the words of Christopher Brady, 

Printer of the Irish Proclamation 1916 

which he printed at the request of James Connolly 

in Liberty Hall on Holy Thursday 

before Easter week 1916 in Dublin City.

James Connolly said he himself would bear the expense.

Accompanied by fellow trusted workmen, 

Michael Molloy and Liam O’Brien, compositors, 

they set about the task 

and possibly their august destiny.

Reproduced with kind permission of the author. PJ Brady is a member of the Fatima Poetry Vigilantes. This poem was composed in a Poetry as Commemoration workshop led by Catherine Ann Cullen in July 2022.